Senate Majority Leader John Thune declined to fulfill a request from President Donald Trump to terminate Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough following a disagreement over legislative rules. The conflict began after MacDonough ruled that $1 billion in requested funding for the Secret Service could not be included in an upcoming Republican budget reconciliation bill.

Background

Under Senate guidelines, provisions in reconciliation bills must meet specific fiscal parameters to be approved for a simple-majority vote. Trump responded on Monday afternoon with a post on Truth Social, criticizing the decision and calling for MacDonough’s immediate dismissal.

Thune indicated that MacDonough would remain in her role, defending the office as a necessary and neutral component of Senate operations. MacDonough has served as the Senate Parliamentarian since her appointment in 2012 under a Democratic majority, and she has continued in the role through subsequent shifts in party control.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.