Washington, D.C. – June 24, 2025, 3:30 PM CDT – In a stunning move, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, an unelected Democrat appointee, has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s agenda by rejecting provisions in the GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) that would expedite offshore oil and gas lease sales. The decision, announced earlier today, requires a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate rather than the 50+1 needed under budget reconciliation, stalling efforts to lower fuel prices—a key promise backed by Trump’s 77 million voters in the 2024 election.
MacDonough, appointed in 2012 by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, ruled that the offshore drilling provisions violate Senate budgetary rules, a move critics label as a partisan overreach. The OBBB, designed to enact Trump’s “Drill, Baby, Drill” platform, aimed to accelerate approval processes, potentially cutting gas prices by up to 20% according to industry estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Her ruling comes amid heightened tensions, with U.S. oil production having dipped from 13.1 million barrels daily under Trump to 12.3 million under Biden due to regulatory constraints.
Senate Republican leaders, including Majority Leader John Thune, face mounting pressure to override MacDonough’s decision. Historical precedent exists—Vice President Dick Cheney overruled a parliamentarian in 2001 to pass Bush’s tax cuts—yet her Democratic ties and unelected status have sparked outrage. Social media erupted, with users like
@EricLDaugh calling for her removal, arguing she undermines the GOP’s trifecta mandate.
The White House has yet to comment, but sources suggest Trump may push Thune to bypass MacDonough. This clash underscores a growing rift between unelected bureaucrats and elected officials, with the Senate poised for a contentious debate.
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