The bill would roll back the budget deal’s military pension cuts, which Ryan pushed to include in the agreement and then defended even as many of his fellow conservatives jumped ship amid a backlash from powerful advocacy groups for service members and veterans.

The Wisconsin Republican’s gambit was viewed as an attempt to get the ball rolling on military compensation reform — something top commanders say is badly needed — and to show that entitlement cuts are possible, that nothing is sacred.

So far, it’s had the opposite effect, unleashing a massive lobbying campaign and forcing vulnerable incumbents to explain to constituents why they voted to cut benefits for those who’ve sacrificed for their country.

Congress has now overturned the short-lived pension cuts, providing political cover for members in both parties up for reelection this fall but undoing a rare victory for those seeking to scale back entitlements.