Brandon Gill Comes Back from Parenting Newborn to Save Budget Bill

Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill returned from leave with his newborn son Friday to participate in a contentious budget vote which could make or break Republican efforts to pass what President Donald Trump calls the “one big, beautiful” budget bill—aimed at funding his policy priorities and fulfilling a host of campaign promises.

As of Friday morning, House Republicans’ budget effort might be in jeopardy due to disagreements with hardline fiscal conservatives demanding more aggressive spending cuts.

Four of these hardliners sit on the House’s budget committee, meaning they could delay the whole package by voting down the bill.

Gill, R-Texas, and wife Danielle D’Souza, daughter of conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, welcomed a new son this month, and he has since been away from Capitol Hill.

Without Gill, Republicans’ majority on the committee would have shrunk from 21-16 to 20-16—a difficult situation given the presence of four critical Republicans.

Now the congressman, who bears a striking resemblance to Superman, is flying into Washington to try to save the day for the “big, beautiful bill.”

“President Trump’s agenda is at stake,” Gill said on X Friday morning. 

“Today [House Budget Republicans] must move forward to deliver on President Trump’s promise to the American people. I’m ready to do just that.”

But why are some Republican members threatening to hold up the entire budget bill in the committee? It boils down to dissatisfaction with spending reductions.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said Thursday that budget members “shouldn’t have the vote” Friday. 

Norman, a fiscal hawk, has criticized Republican proposals to delay cost-saving Medicaid “community engagement” requirements until 2029, which is after the next presidential election.

Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., who also sits on the committee, recommended Thursday that “[take] some more time to obtain that truth,” about the cost of their budgetary proposals.

Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas; and Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., also sit on the committee, and have made clear that they’re not satisfied with the budget’s fiscal framework either.

“I’m staying here all weekend and we’re going to get this damn thing done,” Roy said Thursday. “But the right way. I’m not going to vote for a bad bill. I didn’t come here to raise debt, I didn’t come here to increase deficits, I didn’t come here to cement Obamacare into law.”

Clyde also said Thursday that “inexcusable is an understatement” when it comes to the bill’s Medicaid work requirements. 

Had Gill been absent it would take just two defections for Republicans to fail to pass the budget, given the 21-16 Republican majority on the committee. Now, three Republicans must vote against the bill to hold it up in committee. 

Of course, Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas does have the option of postponing a vote, which would avoid the drama of having it voted down by Republicans.

This article has been edited to clarify that Gill did not officially go on paternity leave.

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