Rep. Thomas Massie says there’s a version of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” he might support — but it’s not the one on the table right now.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Caller, the Kentucky Republican said a “skinny” version of the legislation focused solely on the border and tax cuts could win his vote.
Massie, a fiscal hawk, opposes the bill as written, arguing it doesn’t do enough to slash government spending. His stance has earned him threats of a 2026 primary challenge, not just from Trump allies, but reportedly from AIPAC as well.
Massie and a group of about ten fellow House members — known as the “Budget Hawks” — are discussing splitting the bill into two parts. One would focus only on core Trump priorities: border security and an extension of the 2017 tax cuts.
“That version, depending on how it hits the deficit and whether it includes repealing Green New Deal subsidies, could be something I support,” Massie said.
He’s especially frustrated that the Senate removed the REINS Act provision, which he personally pushed for. He also blasted Senate tweaks like the phaseout of renewable energy credits and possible changes to SALT deductions, warning that those would favor blue states.
Massie said the final Senate bill could blow a bigger hole in the deficit than the House version and scoffed at Speaker Mike Johnson’s promise to force Congress to work through July 4. According to Massie, the real deadline is in August.
Another red flag: many of Trump’s tax reforms — including the no-tax-on-tips provision — expire after just three years. “What happens then?” Massie asked. “They’ll call it a fiscal cliff and demand we extend everything again.”
As of now, Massie said, the House is in a holding pattern. “We’re just not doing much,” he said. “The Speaker is making it look like we’re busy, but really, we’re treading water.”