Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is under fire from conservatives within the House Republican caucus, notably the House Freedom Caucus, which had previously obstructed his election in January. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX), a member of the Freedom Caucus, has publicly discouraged Republicans from voting for the proposed debt ceiling increase bill, despite the risk of a default, an outcome most Republicans are likely to avoid by voting in favor of the bill. The Caucus might find allies among Democrats as a federal default would be politically disadvantageous for the party in control of the White House.
The right-wing faction has, since March, advocated for substantial spending cuts to be tied to any increase in the debt ceiling. The proposed Limit, Save, Grow Act aimed to revert the federal budget baseline to its prior level, effectively nullifying the new spending from the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill passed in December. Additionally, it planned to impose stringent limits on spending growth over the next ten years rather than enforcing a two-year cap on nondefense discretionary spending.
The Freedom Caucus is also disgruntled over McCarthy’s inability to secure a larger reduction in IRS funding. They are set to recoup only about a quarter of the $80 billion increase that was granted to the IRS in the previous year. Caucus Chairman Scott Perry criticized McCarthy for wasting the greatest opportunity a Republican has had in years to enforce budget cuts and slow the growth of national debt.
As the deadline for the federal government default approaches, the Freedom Caucus’s best chance to halt the bill is expected on Tuesday when the House Rules Committee reviews the debt ceiling bill. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ralph Norman (R-SC), who gained seats on the Rules Committee during the conflict over McCarthy’s election, will play a crucial role. Massie has noted that the debt ceiling bill merely permits borrowing to fund spending already approved by Congress. He argues that it is not the bill alone, but rather more responsible budgeting from both Congress and the president that can address America’s fiscal situation.
