Former Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin has publicly defended his successor, Elizabeth MacDonough, after President Trump called for her removal from the nonpartisan position that advises the Senate on procedural rules and interpretations of chamber procedure.
MacDonough became Senate Parliamentarian in 2021, appointed by then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The parliamentarian's role is to provide impartial guidance on Senate rules, precedent, and procedures—a function considered essential to the chamber's institutional integrity.
NPR's Elissa Nadworny reported that Frumin spoke about the situation in an interview expected to air later Friday. According to initial reporting, Frumin defended MacDonough against criticism from the White House.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and government ethics advocates have largely rallied behind MacDonough, arguing that removing her would undermine Senate independence. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said on social media that the parliamentarian's role exists precisely to insulate procedural decisions from political pressure. "This is how we keep the Senate from becoming a pure majoritarian institution," Murphy wrote.
Progressive advocacy groups have also weighed in. Common Cause called any dismissal "a direct attack on institutional norms." The organization stated that the parliamentarian position was designed to be apolitical, and that removing MacDonough for rulings she made in her official capacity would set a dangerous precedent for Senate independence.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of Trump's call say the president has legitimate concerns about parliamentary rulings that have shaped legislation. White House officials have suggested MacDonough's interpretations have at times overstepped traditional boundaries of the nonpartisan role, particularly on reconciliation procedure questions.
Some Republican senators have indicated openness to reconsidering how the parliamentarian position operates. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said the role should be "responsive to elected representatives." Others have pointed to historical instances where parliamentarians' rulings affected major legislation as justification for examining the current structure.
What the Numbers Show
The Senate Parliamentarian position has existed since 1937, when the role was formally established. MacDonough is only the 13th person to hold the post. Her predecessors include Frumin himself, who served from 2001 to 2015 under both Democratic and Republican majorities.
The position carries no constitutional or statutory basis—it exists solely through Senate rules and precedent. Parliamentarians serve at the pleasure of the Senate as a whole, meaning either party could theoretically move to replace them with a simple majority vote.
The Bottom Line
Frumin's public defense of MacDonough represents an unusual intervention in what has typically been a quiet, behind-the-scenes role. The parliamentarian position has historically operated without significant public attention, but recent conflicts over reconciliation procedure and budget legislation have brought increased scrutiny to the office.
What happens next will depend on whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune chooses to act on Trump's calls. Removing MacDonough would require a vote of the full Senate, which could expose Republican senators to political pressure from both sides ahead of midterm elections.