WASHINGTON – Following their pursuit of full control on Capitol Hill, Congressional Republicans are now under pressure to demonstrate their ability to enact President Donald Trump’s campaign promises. GOP senators are set to convene for a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Friday evening, following a lengthy meeting at the White House where House Republicans strived to devise a strategy to advance Trump’s agenda in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson is scheduled to accompany the president to the Super Bowl on Sunday.
As discussions unfold, congressional Republicans are at odds regarding the most effective approach to fulfill Trump’s pledges on immigration, domestic energy, defense, and taxes. The narrow margins in both chambers pose a significant challenge to delivering on these promises. House Republicans are grappling with outlining a preliminary bill to determine spending and budget cuts, which is the essential first step before initiating the budget reconciliation process. This process would enable the passage of a bill with a mere 51 votes in the Senate, bypassing the need to combat a Democratic filibuster.
The slim majority held by House Republicans renders it susceptible to disruptions by individual members. Despite their recent retreat in Miami and a commitment to start deliberations on the framework bill this week, they have yet to reach a consensus on budget specifics. With time running out, Senate Budget Chair Senator Lindsey Graham announced plans to proceed with the Senate’s strategy, proposing to address immigration, energy, and defense in one bill and taxes in another. This plan has raised concerns among House Republicans, who argue it could jeopardize the tax bill’s passage without the border and energy provisions crucial for garnering support.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized the importance of aligning with the dynamics of the House and highlighted President Trump’s endorsement of swiftly addressing his priorities. Amidst these developments, it is imperative to understand the current status of Trump’s legislative agenda on Capitol Hill.
The United Nations. This would result in an even smaller majority of 217-215 for a few months, meaning House Republicans cannot afford to lose a single vote in order to pass bills. House leaders have advocated for combining all of Trump’s priorities into one comprehensive bill, referred to by Trump as a “big, beautiful bill,” to ensure the support of every Republican. This bill would utilize a process called “reconciliation,” allowing lawmakers to bypass the 60-vote Senate threshold that typically necessitates compromise with Democrats. Former President Joe Biden also employed this strategy to pass his agenda through the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan. Reconciliation bills are limited to measures related to spending.
During a White House meeting with House Republicans, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, shared the president’s tax priorities for the policy bill. These include no taxes on tips, Social Security benefits, and overtime pay, as well as extending tax changes from his first term, adjusting certain deductions affecting residents in high-tax states, eliminating special tax breaks for wealthy sports team owners, and closing the carried interest loophole. Leavitt stated that this would be the largest tax cut in history for middle-class working Americans, with the president committed to collaborating with Congress to achieve this goal.
Republicans aim to bolster border security technology, staffing, and detention facilities, while dismantling parts of Biden’s climate legislation and supporting domestic energy production, including oil and gas. Trump has expressed a willingness for Congress to determine how to pass his agenda, emphasizing the importance of its completion. This has led to disagreements between the House and Senate, given their differing approaches. House Republicans recently convened at a Trump resort in Miami for three days to devise top-line figures to aid in passing a budget blueprint.
A notable challenge is the potential cost of the package, with Trump’s tax proposals and the extension of tax cuts estimated to reach trillions of dollars. Some members of the House Freedom Caucus and other conservatives advocate for substantial spending cuts to offset these costs, which could present political hurdles for moderates within the conference. Discussions have also included the possibility of raising the debt ceiling as part of the package, as the federal government is expected to reach its limit this year, necessitating legislation to prevent a default. Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris emphasized the importance of these discussions in a recent interview with USA TODAY.
“We believe that incorporating the debt ceiling increase into the reconciliation bill would come with a significant cost. If Democrats are approached for the debt ceiling raise, their demands for concessions could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade.” This statement was made by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) during a hearing in which Russell Vought appeared before the Senate Budget Committee for a confirmation hearing and vote.
While the House is experiencing a delay, the Senate is moving forward with its plans. Senate leaders have expressed their willingness to give the House time to develop its strategy. However, if the one-bill approach fails, the Senate will proceed with its two-bill plan. Senate Budget Committee Chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, has declared that the time has come for action. He announced his intention to advance a budget blueprint next week, independently of the House.
Senator Graham emphasized, “It’s time for the Senate to move forward. I appreciate the House’s efforts, but it is crucial that we provide the necessary funding to (border czar) Tom Holman to fulfill President Trump’s commitments.” His proposed plan entails allocating $150 billion for national defense and $175 billion for border security, which includes investments in new technology, bedspace, and personnel. The proposed additional spending would be balanced by corresponding cuts. The Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to commence work on Senator Graham’s proposal next Wednesday.
If Senator Graham and his committee finalize the passage of a budget blueprint before the House does, the House will have to decide whether to accept the Senate’s version and proceed or advocate for their own version. Rep. Tom Cole, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee from Oklahoma, indicated that he is not currently concerned about the disparities between the two chambers. He stressed that passing the budget blueprint is the initial step.
However, Rep. Cole cautioned, “If the reconciliation package is not obtained, we will witness the largest tax hike in U.S. history,” as President Trump’s tax cuts from 2017 are set to expire this year. In the event of such a scenario, he warned that GOP members may face repercussions from their constituents at the polls in 2026. “That’s not the role Republicans were destined to play,” he remarked.
This article was contributed by Swapna Venugopal and was originally featured in USA TODAY.
