House Republicans stumbled Tuesday night after a key procedural rule aimed at shielding President Donald Trump’s tariffs failed on the floor.
The GOP-controlled chamber voted 214-217, falling short of a simple majority. Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Kevin Kiley of California, and Don Bacon of Nebraska broke ranks and joined every Democrat in opposition.
Two Republicans did not vote. North Carolina Rep. Greg Murphy, who underwent surgery in December after being diagnosed with a benign tumor in his skull, has not voted this week.
“I have to answer to Article I,” Bacon told reporters while leaving the Capitol, pointing to Congress’ authority over tariffs.
The setback followed a seven-hour delay by House GOP leaders scrambling to lock down support. With Republicans holding a narrow 218-214 majority, Speaker Mike Johnson could afford just one defection if all members were present.
The proposed rule would have blocked lawmakers from forcing votes to cancel Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and Brazil until early August. The House is expected to be out of session that month and again in October as members campaign ahead of the midterms.
Massie, a longtime tariff critic facing a Trump-backed primary challenger, quickly voted “no.”
“The law requires Congress to permit a vote on Presidential emergencies within 15 days of being declared,” the Kentucky Republican wrote on X. “Today the Speaker is trying to pass a resolution that literally says a day is not a day, just to avoid voting on the emergencies that underpin the tariffs. Smoke & mirrors!”
Frustrations have been building among some Republicans over leadership’s repeated efforts to block rank-and-file attempts to unwind Trump’s trade measures. The House previously approved a similar restriction in March 2025 by a razor-thin 216-214 vote.
That earlier procedural shield expired Jan. 31, giving Democrats an opening. New York Rep. Gregory Meeks has pledged to force a vote on revoking Trump’s Canada tariffs.
The measure could clear the Senate, where a prior version passed with four GOP votes in October. Any resolution overturning the tariffs would almost certainly face a presidential veto.
Johnson defended the extension of the block, citing a pending Supreme Court case.
“The rationale for extending this a bit longer to July is to allow the Supreme Court to rule on the pending case,” Johnson told reporters. “That process has been playing out. I think it’s logical to allow that to continue.”
Johnson also applauded Trump’s trade agenda, calling it a “great benefit to the country.”
