Former Chair of the House Freedom Caucus, ex-Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), on Monday criticized President Donald Trump for pushing House Republicans to approve the scaled back Consolidated Appropriations Act — and predicted Republican capitulation under Trump’s pressure.
[Last week the Senate voted 71-29, with some Republicans defecting, to pass H.R. 7148 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — returning it to the House. Five Republican senators voted against the bill in its amended form: Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-KY), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).]
Before the bill fulfilled Good’s prediction, passing in the House on Tuesday, the former Congressman wrote on social media: “Trump demanding 24 House R’s who voted against the spending pkg on Jan 22 vote YES on it now, WITHOUT DHS/ICE funded or SAVE Act included. But, it will still include 3K earmarks for $3B, give us another $2T deficit & take us to $40T in debt. How many will fold & obey?”
Good answered his own question by adding: “Answer: Enough—-if not all—of them (save Massie).”
Trump demanding 24 House R’s who voted against the spending pkg on Jan 22 vote YES on it now, WITHOUT DHS/ICE funded or SAVE Act included. But, it will still include 3K earmarks for $3B, give us another $2T deficit & take us to $40T in debt. How many will fold & obey?
— Bob Good (@RepBobGood) February 2, 2026
[NOTE: U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), as Good indicated, has resisted the GOP’s new spending bill. He wrote on Monday: “I offered the following amendments to cut money from this week’s spending bill. Why are we funding these things?!”]
I offered the following amendments to cut money from this week’s spending bill. Why are we funding these things?! pic.twitter.com/xZMrlb27Am
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 3, 2026
To avoid a large-scale government shutdown, the Senate amended the House bill, which had failed on a 45-55 vote, to remove full-year funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a compromise with Democrats asking for time to address disputes over immigration and ICE activities, which are funded by DHS.
After the bill passed the House this afternoon, Good wrote: “Trump taking a shutdown off the table eliminates all Republican leverage. When your opponent knows you fear a shutdown more than he does—you lose. This is Kevin McCarthy’s failed playbook.”
Trump taking a shutdown off the table eliminates all Republican leverage. When your opponent knows you fear a shutdown more than he does—you lose. This is Kevin McCarthy’s failed playbook.
— Bob Good (@RepBobGood) February 3, 2026
Note: In 2024, Good supported the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, and later faced a primary challenge from state senator John McGuire, who (Good says) was recruited by McCarthy and endorsed by Trump.
Good, who narrowly lost the 2024 Republican primary to McGuire, said in August 2025 that he filed paperwork to run again in 2026. He has not yet announced that he’s running again against incumbent McGuire.