Listen To Story Above
Since its establishment in 2015, the House Freedom Caucus has consistently challenged Republican House speakers, starting with John Boehner and continuing through Paul Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, and now Mike Johnson.
The group’s influence has reached new heights with Republicans maintaining a narrow 218-214 House majority through March’s end, potentially creating obstacles for President Trump’s legislative agenda before it reaches Congress.
However, Trump and Johnson have found an unexpected ally in their internal Republican disputes: the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), whose aggressive approach to government reduction has helped win over GOP fiscal conservatives.
The House Budget Resolution:
✅ Cuts Spending
✅ Secures the Border
✅ Modernizes the MilitaryCongress MUST deliver! pic.twitter.com/dvYlzRssuX
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) March 6, 2025
“I think that’s an important part of it,” Texas Representative Chip Roy told The Post when discussing DOGE’s role in establishing credibility for spending reductions. “DOGE is basically right now a great big magnifying glass … I think that’s step one of many.”
Roy, a leading fiscal conservative among House Republicans, recently voted for Trump’s agenda package framework despite describing the proposed cuts as “weak.” He’s even considering supporting a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown on March 14, anticipating that Republicans will incorporate DOGE’s savings into fiscal year 2026 appropriations.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) shares this perspective. “The bottom line is that DOGE has made it pretty clear that what we’ve been saying all along is pretty true,” Harris stated. “We need a closer look at every single dollar that the federal government spends.”
Not all Republicans share this enthusiasm. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, who cast the lone GOP vote against Trump’s agenda blueprint, seeks more substantial changes. “Congress just stood up and applauded DOGE for exposed wasteful and fraudulent programs that Congress itself funded… and plans to fund in the coming CR,” Massie criticized on X following Trump’s speech.
Speaker Mike Johnson is a TRAITOR who caved in to Uniparty, commies. A Spending Bill just passed to fund government sans SAVE ACT, a measure preventing illegal immigrants from voting in U.S. elections
Salary $235,000
Net worth $6MTake a guess which side he’s on pic.twitter.com/IMHIL0xdkg
— It's 🇺🇸 Tiff 🇺🇸 (@TiffMoodNukes) September 20, 2024
Some Republicans advocate for a more measured approach. Representative Nicole Malliotakis from New York acknowledged DOGE’s achievements but expressed concerns about its methods, particularly regarding the World Trade Center Health Program cuts that were later reversed.
The situation has created challenges for some Republicans at town halls, where constituents have expressed opposition to DOGE’s actions. GOP leadership has privately suggested holding virtual meetings to minimize public demonstrations.
Representative Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) dismissed these protests, stating, “What we’re seeing at these town halls is not authentic. Ultimately, when I look at what that pushback is, I would equate it to a wounded animal that’s trying to defend itself. Democrats are doubling down on business as usual. I think they’re pretty tone deaf to where the majority of the country is.”
Looking ahead, Trump and Johnson face significant challenges. They must prevent a partial shutdown while unifying hardliners and moderates around Trump’s agenda package. Additionally, they’ll need to navigate the passage of 12 spending bills after August – a feat Congress hasn’t accomplished on schedule in nearly 30 years.
