Senate GOP effort to move on Trump budget before House gets leader Thune backing

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has thrown his support behind a GOP effort in the Senate to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda, in a significant departure from current plans for the House to take the lead on passing legislation. Thune praised Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for crafting a budget resolution that would pave the way for a reconciliation bill to fund border security, military rebuilding, and energy security.

Thune expressed his support for Graham’s efforts to move forward with the President’s priorities in the Senate, signaling a shift in strategy from the House’s original plan to pass a bill first. The Senate’s move is seen as a way to overcome internal disagreements among House Republicans over spending levels.

Graham unveiled his plan to advance the bill through a key procedural hurdle next week, with Thune’s backing giving the Senate a significant advantage over any competing House GOP efforts. The budget reconciliation process would allow Republicans to push through Trump’s proposals with a lower threshold of 51 votes in the Senate, as opposed to the usual 60.

The first step in the reconciliation process involves advancing a bill through the Senate and House budget committees. The Senate’s committee is set to consider a budget resolution that would include funding for border security, fossil fuel energy, and national defense. A second bill focusing on extending Trump’s tax policies from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expected later in the year.

Graham confirmed his plan for the two-bill approach, emphasizing the need to fulfill promises on border security and deportation of criminal illegal aliens. He highlighted the importance of providing resources for finishing the border wall, hiring ICE agents, and increasing detention beds to prevent the release of dangerous individuals into the country.

While Senate Republicans have shown a preference for passing two bills through reconciliation, they have faced opposition in the House, which has pushed for a single large bill encompassing all of Trump’s priorities. The Senate’s move to leapfrog House Republicans on reconciliation could force the lower chamber to deal with the Senate’s bill instead of setting their own starting point.

Trump has previously expressed a preference for a single large bill but has deferred to Congress on the strategy. The President has urged lawmakers to choose the quickest path to advance his agenda. Thune’s support for Graham’s efforts signals a unified front in the Senate to push through legislation that aligns with Trump’s priorities.

Julia Johnson, a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, is leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. Her reporting on the Senate’s budget reconciliation process and the push to advance Trump’s agenda provides insight into the evolving dynamics on Capitol Hill. Follow Julia’s reporting on Twitter at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.