Credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr
The unelected Senate Parliamentarian has once again proven the D.C. swamp is alive and well.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough—first appointed by Democrat swamp king Harry Reid and known for advising Al Gore during the 2000 election debacle—has just gutted key America First reforms from President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB).
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has flatly refused to overrule MacDonough’s rulings.
MacDonough’s controversial rulings stripped out major reforms Republicans had promised voters—ranging from bans on abortion funding, illegal immigrant benefits, and taxpayer-subsidized sex-change operations for minors.
She also struck down measures to end “silver loading” under Obamacare, a policy that has ballooned health insurance premiums and handed more taxpayer cash to insurance companies.
While millions of voters supported President Trump’s legislative agenda, MacDonough shredded those promises using the opaque and unaccountable “Byrd Rule,” a Senate procedure that’s increasingly being wielded like a sword by unelected bureaucrats and weaponized to dismantle the conservative agenda.
GOP lawmakers didn’t hold back. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted MacDonough in a scorched-earth statement:
“The UN-ELECTED Senate Parliamentarian just ruled against throwing illegal aliens off of American taxpayer funded Medicare and Medicaid AND STOPPING MEDICAID AND CHIP FROM FUNDING SEX CHANGES ON CHILDREN!!!
We are trying to undo the America LAST insanity from the Democrats by kicking illegals off of Medicare and Medicaid and stopping taxpayer subsidies from being used for genital mutilation of children!!
But the UN-ELECTED Senate Parliamentarian used the Byrd Rule, meaning these Trump agenda priorities, that deliver our campaign promises, need to be stripped out of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The UN-ELECTED Deep State bureaucrats, radical far left activist judges, and America LAST Democrats are doing everything they can to destroy President Trump and THE PEOPLE’S agenda!!!”
The UN-ELECTED Senate Parliamentarian just ruled against throwing illegal aliens off of American taxpayer funded Medicare and Medicaid AND STOPPING MEDICAID AND CHIP FROM FUNDING SEX CHANGES ON CHILDREN!!!
We are trying to undo the America LAST insanity from the Democrats by…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) June 26, 2025
Rep. Keith Self wrote, “The rogue Senate Parliamentarian should be overruled, just like activist judges.”
The rogue Senate Parliamentarian should be overruled, just like activist judges. https://t.co/LIe5ooNunR
— Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) June 26, 2025
Rep. Dan Crenshaw joined the chorus, demanding MacDonough’s immediate termination:
It is time to FIRE the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough. This is not about partisanship, it is about rule of law. She has failed to apply the rules of reconciliation accurately on multiple occasions. @LeaderJohnThune should fire her NOW.
There is precedent for this. The Senate Parlimentarian was fired in 2001 by then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.
I don’t state this lightly. This is a very serious matter. But the current parliamentarian has shown clear political bias, applying ideology and not the rules of the Senate.
There are many examples of this so far, but today was the final red line for me. She struck my provision that stops federal funding for gender transition procedures, claiming it doesn’t have budgetary impact and therefore is “out of order.”
The FACT is this provision absolutely has a direct budgetary impact. It amends Section 1903(i) of the Social Security Act, which governs federal payments under Medicaid. So MacDonough’s claim that it’s noncompliant on procedural grounds is absolutely wrong.
This is bigger than one provision. It’s about the sanctity of the rules and laws we follow, and the importance of the position of the Head Parliamentarian, who must be an objective non-partisan who applies the rules with consistency, not ideology.
It is time to FIRE the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough. This is not about partisanship, it is about rule of law. She has failed to apply the rules of reconciliation accurately on multiple occasions. @LeaderJohnThune should fire her NOW.
There is precedent for this.…
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) June 26, 2025
Rep. Scott Perry wrote on X, “First, rogue judges. Now, the Senate parliamentarian’s allegedly off the rails, getting in the way of the “One BBB, ” and slashing the reforms / cuts that 77 million Americans voted for in November. Unelected bureaucrats need to stop meddling in America’s legislative process.”
First, rogue judges.
Now, the Senate parliamentarian’s allegedly off the rails, getting in the way of the “One BBB, ” and slashing the reforms / cuts that 77 million Americans voted for in November.
Unelected bureaucrats need to stop meddling in America’s legislative…
— Rep. Scott Perry (@RepScottPerry) June 26, 2025
Rep. Greg Steube urged Vice President J.D. Vance to disregard the parliamentarian’s ruling, arguing on X that he “should overrule the Parliamentarian and let the will of the people… determine the future of this country.”
The Vice President, as President of the Senate, can technically ignore the parliamentarian’s ruling.
“How is it that an unelected swamp bureaucrat, who was appointed by Harry Reid over a decade ago, gets to decide what can and cannot go in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill?
The Senate Parliamentarian is not elected. She is not accountable to the American people. Yet she holds veto power over legislation supported by millions of voters.
It is time for our elected leaders to take back control. @JDVance should overrule the Parliamentarian and let the will of the people, not some staffer hiding behind Senate procedure, determine the future of this country.”
How is it that an unelected swamp bureaucrat, who was appointed by Harry Reid over a decade ago, gets to decide what can and cannot go in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill?
The Senate Parliamentarian is not elected. She is not accountable to the American people. Yet she… https://t.co/y2loBAMENc
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) June 26, 2025
Sen. Tommy Tuberville torched the parliamentarian, reminding the public that she was appointed by Harry Reid and once advised Al Gore.
“The WOKE Senate Parliamentarian, who was appointed by Harry Reid and advised Al Gore, just STRUCK DOWN a provision BANNING illegals from stealing Medicaid from American citizens. This is a perfect example of why Americans hate THE SWAMP. Unelected bureaucrats think they know better than U.S. Congressmen who are elected BY THE PEOPLE. Her job is not to push a woke agenda. THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP.”
The WOKE Senate Parliamentarian, who was appointed by Harry Reid and advised Al Gore, just STRUCK DOWN a provision BANNING illegals from stealing Medicaid from American citizens.
This is a perfect example of why Americans hate THE SWAMP.
Unelected bureaucrats think they know…
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) June 26, 2025
Did Harry Reid’s Senate Parliamentarian not get the memo?
President Trump’s landslide victory was a MANDATE from 77 million Americans.
The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers on that mandate.
The Parliamentarian is trying to UNDERMINE the President’s mandate and should be fired.
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) June 26, 2025
Sen. Jim Banks weighed in, stating, “We’re not going to let the parliamentarian, Democrats, or even squishy Republicans stop us from passing President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill to cut taxes for working families and fund mass deportations.”
We’re not going to let the parliamentarian, Democrats, or even squishy Republicans stop us from passing President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill to cut taxes for working families and fund mass deportations.
Quick update from the Senate: pic.twitter.com/EuHQY3DI2i
— Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) June 26, 2025
Sen. Roger Marshall wrote on X, “In 2001 Leader Trent Lott fired the Senate Parliamentarian during reconciliation. It’s 2025 during reconciliation & we need to again fire the Senate Parliamentarian. My resolution to term limit the parliamentarian will settle this now & in the future.”
In 2001 Leader Trent Lott fired the Senate Parliamentarian during reconciliation.
It’s 2025 during reconciliation & we need to again fire the Senate Parliamentarian.
My resolution to term limit the parliamentarian will settle this now & in the future.https://t.co/7XcVaNgcGH
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 26, 2025
Despite the firestorm, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) flatly refused to overrule the Parliamentarian.
Politico reported:
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday the Senate would not move to overrule its parliamentarian after she advised that including key provisions in the GOP’s domestic-policy megabill would expose it to a fatal Democratic filibuster.
After the decisions were publicized Thursday, multiple conservative Republicans called on the Senate to sideline Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough. But when asked by POLITICO about overruling her, Thune said, “No, that would not be a good option for getting a bill done.”
In a weak-kneed comment to CNN’s Ted Barrett, Thune mumbled, “I think you guys know I’ve made my position clear on that subject.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he is still opposed to overturning the Senate’s parliamentarian’s rulings. Has raised concerns about the precedent.
“I think you guys know I’ve made my position clear on that subject,” he told @tedbarrettcnn
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 26, 2025
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