Overview
- President Trump publicly demanded on Wednesday that Senate Republicans fire Elizabeth MacDonough after she removed a $1 billion ballroom security line from a reconciliation immigration package and he reportedly pressed Majority Leader John Thune by phone.
- The parliamentarian found the ballroom security language could not pass under reconciliation because it violated the Byrd Rule, which bars provisions that are not strictly budgetary from using the fast‑track, simple‑majority process.
- Senate Republican leaders pushed back against firing MacDonough, with figures such as John Thune and Susan Collins defending her nonpartisan role and saying they will rework and resubmit the bill language for further review.
- The disputed funding was intended to cover roughly $600 million for Secret Service upgrades and about $220 million tied to East Wing improvements, but its fate is uncertain as lawmakers haggle over how to rewrite the provisions to meet procedural tests.
- The clash spotlights a recurring tension over the parliamentarian’s power and reconciliation rules dating to MacDonough’s 2012 appointment by then‑Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and could increase pressure on Republicans to address the 60‑vote filibuster or other Senate procedures.