The Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, is back in the news after President Trump called on Republicans to fire her. MacDonough drew Trump’s ire after advising that the Senate could not include security funding for the president’s White House ballroom in the Secure America Act (S. 2). Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushed back on the call to oust her. But Senate conservatives are increasingly warming to the idea of replacing her.
The pressure on MacDonough is not new. Nor is it unique to Republicans. Democrats have criticized her when her advice frustrated their agenda. Republicans now criticize her for the same reason. The pressure is most intense during reconciliation debates because reconciliation allows senators to bypass the filibuster. That makes the parliamentarian’s advice especially important. Senators rely on her to help them navigate the complex rules governing reconciliation bills.
