Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy warned on Tuesday that GOP lawmakers might merely pay lip service to President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda while actively working against it behind the scenes.
During a discussion with Todd Starnes, Roy revealed that excuses are already surfacing among the GOP lawmakers as to why they won’t fully endorse Trump’s policies. Roy predicted a quiet resistance to Trump is forming within his party, unless significant pressure is applied to carry out Trump’s agenda.
“I think that Republicans in Congress are gonna give lip service to backing the president’s agenda and behind the scenes they’re going to be stonewalling it unless some of us can kick them right in the rear end and make them deliver,” Roy said. “That’s my blunt assessment. Truth is, you’re already hearing excuses. Well, we don’t have 60 votes in the Senate. You’re already hearing some of my colleagues say, ‘Well, we can’t do, you know, broad mass deportations,’ which by the way I think effectively just call it what it is, repatriation.”
“I think that Republicans in Congress are going to give lip service to backing the President’s agenda, and behind the scenes, they’re going to be stonewalling it. Unless some of us can kick them right in the rear end and make them deliver. ” pic.twitter.com/d5rhy9TdFN
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) December 4, 2024
Roy pointed out recent legislative actions that he believes would immediately bankrupt important programs.
“You can’t just write another blank check. They just voted for $200 billion to re-shift Social Security funding from some people to others, which will cause their security to be bankrupt six months earlier,” Roy told Starnes. “This is the natural way of things for Republicans in Washington. They need to understand they will change their ways or they will lose power. That’s it. I’m gonna be on the side of change. I’m gonna be on the side of disrupting the status quo.”
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to abolish two outdated rules that diminish benefits for public sector workers, according to Yahoo Finance. Initially introduced in 2023, the bill now advances to the Senate with substantial bipartisan backing and, if enacted, will incur an estimated cost of $196 billion over 10 years.
Roy voiced his support for a substantial faction within the party that is eager to advance Trump’s policies. However, he warned, “There’s a large block here who want to do it, and I think some people here in this conference are in for a rude awakening.”
Roy also touched on broader frustrations with federal funding practices, emphasizing his discontent with taxpayer money supporting (National Public Radio) NPR through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
“I own a news talk radio station in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the things that angers me is the money I earn from my private business goes to fund competition across the street over at NPR, and I would love, I’ve already sent a message to Elon and Vivek, I would love for them to just dismantle the funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Roy said.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy previously unveiled their strategy for the newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), detailing extensive cuts to federal regulations and staffing.
Featured Image Credit: Gage Skidmore
