Who is Senate parliamentarian? What to know about staffer Trump seeks to overrule

Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald on Jun 30, 2025

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At the heart of the debate over the “Big, Beautiful Bill” stands one little-known official: the Senate parliamentarian.

The low-profile congressional official has been thrust into the spotlight after issuing a procedural decision on the GOP-backed spending bill, drawing sharp responses from some Republicans.

President Donald Trump himself has even weighed in, calling for the “unelected senate staffer” to be ignored.

Who is the Senate parliamentarian? What powers do they have? And why are Republicans up in arms? Here is what to know.

Who is the parliamentarian?

The Senate parliamentarian is a nonpartisan adviser who makes recommendations to lawmakers regarding the interpretation of rules and precedents in the upper chamber.

The role was established in 1935 amid the passage of a slew of New Deal-era laws, which “expanded opportunities for procedural confusion and mischief,” according to Senate records.

The parliamentarian is appointed by the Senate majority leader and serves at their pleasure, according to the National Constitution Center.

The official’s rulings are not necessarily final.

The presiding officer of the Senate — typically the vice president or the president pro tempore — can simply ignore their advice, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

This has happened a few times in recent history, including in 2017, when GOP lawmakers changed Senate rules to allow Supreme Court nominees to be confirmed with a simple majority.

That said, the Senate typically adheres to the parliamentarian’s guidance, according to Time. This included in 2021, when the staffer rejected Democrats’ attempt to include a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the “Build Back Better” bill.

Currently, the office of the parliamentarian is held by Elizabeth MacDonough, who has served in the position since 2012. She was appointed by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat.

MacDonough formerly worked at the Senate library and as a trial attorney, according to the Wall Street Journal. She also advised former Vice President Al Gore during a recount dispute following the 2000 election.

Why are Republicans upset?

Some Republicans expressed outrage at the parliamentarian after she issued rulings on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which is currently being considered by the Senate, following its passage in the House in May.

In late June, MacDonough ruled that a series of provisions in the bill violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule, which prohibits “extraneous” provisions from being included in budget reconciliation bills.

One such provision would have charged immigrants a $1,000 fee to apply for asylum in the U.S., according to The Hill.

MacDonough also ruled against several provisions that affect Medicaid. One was a proposed cap on provider taxes, which states use to fund Medicaid, according to CNBC. Another would block noncitizens from accessing Medicaid in addition to other health programs, according to USA Today.

In response to these proposed changes, multiple GOP lawmakers telegraphed their frustration with MacDonough.

“The WOKE Senate Parliamentarian, who was appointed by Harry Reid and advised Al Gore, just STRUCK DOWN a provision BANNING illegals from stealing Medicaid from American citizens,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on June 26. “THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP.”

Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, also singled out MacDonough for criticism.

“How is it that an unelected swamp bureaucrat, who was appointed by Harry Reid over a decade ago, gets to decide what can and cannot go in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill?” he wrote on X.

He then called on Vice President JD Vance — using his power as the presiding officer in the Senate — to ignore the proposed changes.

Trump appeared to concur with this view.

“Great Congressman Greg Steube is 100% correct,” he wrote on Truth Social on June 29. “An unelected Senate Staffer (Parliamentarian), should not be allowed to hurt the Republicans Bill. Wants many fantastic things out. NO!”

However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, poured cold water on the push to sideline MacDonough.

When asked by Politico about overruling her on June 26, Thune said, “No, that would not be a good option for getting a bill done.”

Meanwhile, other Republicans have defended MacDonough.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Thillis, who recently announced he will not seek reelection, called her a “straight shooter,” according to Reuters. And Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy told reporters, “Nah, never overrule the parliamentarian.”

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