Senate Republicans are advancing a two-part budget package to fund key elements of Donald Trump’s agenda, despite the former president publicly backing a rival House proposal. The move highlights growing tensions within the GOP as lawmakers race to deliver early policy wins on border security and tax cuts.
In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump praised the House’s single-bill approach, which combines border funding, tax cut extensions, and sweeping spending cuts:
The House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it!Senate leaders, however, argue their phased strategy addresses urgent border needs faster while deferring complex tax debates.
Key differences between the plans include:
- House bill: Single package with $2T+ in cuts, debt limit hike, and immediate tax extensions
- Senate plan: Separates border/defense funding from tax cuts and debt negotiations
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) summarized the Senate’s stance: Nothing would please me more than Speaker Johnson putting together Trump’s ideal bill. But I cannot sit idle without a Plan B. The Senate proposal allocates $15B for border operations and fast-tracks immigration enforcement funding requested by Trump’s Homeland Security team.
Majority Leader John Thune emphasized urgency in Thursday’s floor speech: Delaying border resources risks derailing the administration’s deportation efforts. Our two-step plan ensures immediate action while preserving tax cut negotiations. The Senate will trigger a marathon Vote-a-rama Thursday night to advance reconciliation procedures, bypassing Democratic filibusters.
House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the Senate effort as a non-starter, vowing to prioritize his chamber’s comprehensive bill. With Republicans holding slim majorities in both chambers, the standoff risks delaying Trump’s priorities unless compromises emerge.