Trump’s Influence Over House Republicans to Be Challenged in Thursday’s Votes

House Republicans Face Test of Loyalty to Trump

Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s influence over House Republicans is set to be challenged on Thursday, as lawmakers prepare for a series of key votes on healthcare, federal funding, and efforts to overturn his recent vetoes.

After a year of largely unified support, some House Republicans are beginning to show signs of independence from Trump’s leadership.

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Republicans representing competitive districts are increasingly anxious about their prospects in the 2026 midterms. Trump’s approach to the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein has also caused friction with some conservative supporters.

Although Trump has not suffered a major legislative loss in his second term, the GOP’s slim majority in the House means that just a few defections could determine the fate of key bills.

“Given Trump’s lack of popularity, especially among independents, it’s not surprising that Republicans from swing districts are seeking to distance themselves,” said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University. “Supporting veto overrides on less prominent issues and addressing rising health insurance costs are smart political moves.”

On the House floor, dozens of moderate Republicans are expected to break ranks and support a Democratic proposal to extend expired Obamacare tax credits for three years. This vote was forced after several moderates signed a petition compelling Speaker Mike Johnson, who opposes the measure, to bring it to a vote.

With the expiration of these subsidies, around 20 million people covered by Obamacare are facing steep increases in their monthly premiums—a topic Democrats plan to highlight in their 2026 campaigns.

Although the extension is unlikely to pass in the GOP-controlled Senate, it increases pressure on lawmakers to reach a bipartisan agreement that could renew the subsidies, expand tax-free health savings accounts, and introduce new rules for prescription drug pricing and fraud prevention.

Federal Spending Agreements

The House is also expected to approve a bipartisan funding package for the Commerce, Justice, Interior, and Energy departments, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency—reaffirming Congress’s control over federal spending.

This agreement, reached by both parties, rejects Trump’s proposed deep cuts to the EPA and NASA’s science programs, and continues funding for agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts, which Trump had sought to eliminate. The bill also includes billions in earmarked projects opposed by the administration.

White House Response and Ongoing Negotiations

The White House has endorsed the spending package, noting that overall expenditures are lower than the previous year. Provisions that reject Trump’s proposed cuts and the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency reflect a growing independence from the executive branch, which has previously attempted to withhold funds approved by Congress.

Negotiations on additional spending bills are reportedly progressing, with lawmakers working to avoid a partial government shutdown or another stopgap funding measure before the January 30 deadline.

Efforts to Override Trump’s Vetoes

On Thursday, the House will attempt to overturn the first two vetoes issued by Trump in his current term. Although the original bills passed without opposition, supporters may struggle to reach the two-thirds majority needed to override the president’s objections.

One vetoed bill would have provided funding for a Colorado water pipeline project championed by Representative Lauren Boebert. Boebert speculated that the veto might be retaliation for her support of releasing the Epstein files, though she expressed hope that was not the case.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stated that Republican leaders are not pressuring members to uphold the vetoes, but leadership is expected to support the president’s position.

The White House justified the veto, stating its commitment to preventing taxpayer money from being spent on costly and unreliable projects.

Another bill, introduced by Florida’s Carlos Gimenez, aimed to expand the Miccosukee Reserved Area in Everglades National Park. The Miccosukee tribe had supported a lawsuit against an immigration detention center, and Trump cited the tribe’s immigration policies as the reason for his veto.

Controversial Foreign Policy Statements

These votes come amid heightened concern over Trump’s recent remarks suggesting the US might “run” Venezuela and that a military takeover of Greenland from Denmark could be considered.

After classified briefings, Republican lawmakers said they do not foresee US troops being deployed in either situation. Allies of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado urged Trump to offer more support, while pro-NATO legislators warned against any attempt to invade Greenland.

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