Republican efforts to pass a $340 billion budget bill collapsed Wednesday after former President Donald Trump openly rejected Senate leaders’ two-part strategy. Border security funding and tax cuts for corporations are now stalled as Vice President JD Vance heads to Capitol Hill to mediate escalating tensions.
Trump criticized Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham’s approach on Truth Social, demanding adoption of a House GOP plan merging all priorities into a single package.
Unlike the Lindsey Graham version... the House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda,Trump wrote.
Key clashes center on:
- A $4.5 trillion House tax cut plan vs Senate's phased approach
- Funding for ICE mass deportations and border wall construction
- Proposed cuts to Medicaid and food stamps to offset spending
Senate Majority Leader John Thune admitted being blindsided by Trump’s intervention. I did not see that one coming, he told reporters after postponing floor votes. Analysts warn the impasse risks delaying critical Pentagon funding increases and DHS operational budgets.
Democrats, meanwhile, have unified against both proposals. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires over healthcare and veterans’ programs. With reconciliation rules requiring only 51 votes, GOP leaders still face internal pressure to resolve disputes before August recess.