Moody's downgrade of the U.S. sovereign credit rating has elicited mixed responses among Republicans in Congress, with some questioning the motive behind the change and others depicting it as a warning that lawmakers should heed as they wrestle with a sweeping tax and budget bill.

House Republicans are in the final rounds of negotiations over a sweeping budget plan that has been significantly influenced by President Donald Trump's priorities.

U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tax bill faced a major political test on Friday, as Republican leaders tried to advance the legislation through Congress over demands for deeper spending cuts from hardline conservatives.