House Rules Committee adopts closed rule for HR 4, advances rescissions package and technical 'engrossment' changes to reconciliation bill

The House Committee on Rules voted to grant a closed rule for HR 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, advancing a package that would rescind roughly $9.4 billion in budget authority. The committee approved the motion to report the rule, including an engrossment correction resolution intended to remove items that the Senate parliamentarian had identified as jeopardizing the privileged status of the House reconciliation bill, by a roll-call vote of 8-4.

The vote moves consideration of the rescissions package to the House floor under a closed rule and attaches a short engrossment correction resolution described in committee as technical changes necessary to meet Senate process requirements. Chairwoman Fox opened the hearing saying, "Today, the rules committee is convening to consider a single measure, HR 4, the rescissions act of 2025," framing the meeting as focused on a single, cross-cutting package.

Why it matters: the closed rule clears the path for floor consideration of the rescission list the White House requested and also incorporates a two-page engrossment correction resolution the majority says is required so that the Senate may treat the related reconciliation bill as privileged under Senate rules. Opponents warned that the engrossment corrections effectively function as a revote on significant portions of the reconciliation text and said members should have more time to review the changes.

Majority and minority positions

Supporters, including the witnesses…