Senate Republicans pressed forward Wednesday with their $340 billion budget bill, prioritizing mass deportations and border security, despite internal GOP divisions and last-minute pushback from President Donald Trump.
The bill faced uncertainty after Trump publicly criticized Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham‘s approach, instead endorsing the House GOP’s broader $4.5 trillion plan, which includes sweeping tax cuts and deep spending cuts. However, Senate leaders prefer a two-bill strategy, handling tax cuts separately to increase the chance of passage.
Why It Matters
The contentious budget process is making an already challenging legislative effort even harder for Republicans. While they hold full control of Congress, enacting Trump’s sweeping agenda remains difficult as Democrats prepare to fight back at every turn. Internal GOP divisions over whether to pass a single massive package or split it into two bills have created tensions between the House and Senate.
In private discussions, including a weekend meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump urged senators to “just get the result,” leaving strategy decisions to Congress. Meanwhile, Democrats, lacking the votes to block Trump’s plans, are warning of severe consequences, particularly as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashes federal agencies, leading to mass layoffs and the dismantling of government programs.
What To Know
“We are moving forward,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, who gave senators the green light to proceed despite Trump’s social media opposition to the Senate plan.
Trump’s unexpected rejection of the Senate’s plan stunned Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who had carefully structured the two-bill strategy to secure early wins for the White House.
“As they say, I did not see that one coming,” Thune said.
With a 50-47 party-line vote, the Senate launched the budget reconciliation process, setting up 50 hours of debate before an expected “vote-a-rama” Thursday—where senators introduce last-minute amendments. The bill provides $175 billion for border security, including mass deportation operations and additional border wall construction, along with $150 billion for the Pentagon and $20 billion for the Coast Guard.
To offset spending, GOP senators are considering rolling back Biden’s methane emissions fee, a key climate measure in the Inflation Reduction Act, while expanding energy leases to generate revenue.
The House’s $4.5 trillion proposal includes $1.5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and other social programs, potentially rising to $2 trillion to appease hard-right conservatives.
What People Are Saying
Trump said early Wednesday on Truth Social he wanted the House’s version passed as a way to “kickstart” the process and “move all of our priorities to the concept of, “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.”: “Unlike the Lindsey Graham version of the very important Legislation currently being discussed, the House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it!”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York told The Associated Press: “These bills that they have have one purpose — and that is they’re trying to give a tax break to their billionaire buddies and have you, the average American person, pay for it.”
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said afterward that Vance told them: “The president wants whatever you guys want. Just do whatever you want. He’s going to support it.”
Cramer added that he believes that Trump enjoys watching the House and Senate compete over his agenda.
What Happens Next
The budget plans are being considered under what’s called the reconciliation process, which allows passage on a simple majority vote without many of the procedural hurdles that stall legislation. Once rare, reconciliation is increasingly being used in the House and Senate to pass big packages on party-line votes when one party controls the White House and Congress.
During Trump’s first term, Republicans used the reconciliation process to pass GOP tax cuts in 2017. Democrats used reconciliation during the Biden presidency era to approve COVID relief and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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