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The Senate struck down Sen. Rand Paul’s proposed amendment that would have slashed federal spending by $1.5 trillion during deliberations on legislation focused on border security and other elements of President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Earlier on Friday, the Senate moved forward with its reconciliation bill, designed to address Trump’s key priorities including border security and domestic energy expansion, while postponing tax reform for subsequent legislation.
Although Trump had advocated for combining all initiatives into one comprehensive bill, Senate Republicans proceeded with their two-part strategy, working through the night on Friday to advance the legislation through a series of amendment votes, known as a “vote-a-rama.”
🚨 BREAKING: Rand Paul tried to "@DOGE" the Senate Budget last night with a $1.5 trillion Spending Cut Amendment, but it crashed 24-76.
All Democrats voted NO, joined by 29 RINOs like McConnell, Graham, Cornyn, Tillis, and Thune – thwarting his attempt to reduce inflation and… pic.twitter.com/ucRcZj9pWb
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) February 21, 2025
During this late-night voting session, Paul introduced his spending reduction amendment, which faced strong opposition. The measure failed with a 74-26 vote, as numerous Republicans sided with Democrats to defeat the Kentucky senator’s proposal.
Prior to the vote, Paul had urged his Republican colleagues on Thursday to pursue more aggressive spending cuts, criticizing the Senate Republican budget resolution for increasing federal spending instead of reducing it.
“Americans will pay dearly for Congress’s inability to say no to the welfare and warfare state. It will mean confiscatory tax rates, high inflation, rising interest rates, and a weak economy,” Paul remarked.
Why would you vote no on @RandPaul amendment to cut spending by $1.5 trillion? @SenateGOP this is what we voted for. Cutting spending! Fulfill the agenda or get primaried pic.twitter.com/GRIUVwsHXi
— 1AndOnlyGT (@1AndOnlyGT) February 21, 2025
He questioned why the Senate wouldn’t follow DOGE leader Elon Musk’s example of focusing on spending reduction, asking during his floor speech, “If we were fiscally conservative, why wouldn’t we take the savings from Elon Musk and DOGE and move it over here and help with the border? Why would we be doing a brand new bill to increase spending by $340 billion?”
Paul stood alone among Republicans in opposing the Senate Republican budget resolution.
