House leaders press ahead with Trump budget bill despite GOP infighting

The House and Senate are on a collision course as they push forward with their respective proposals for federal budget talks. Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that the House Budget Committee will take up a resolution for a massive bill to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda later this week. The panel is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are also moving forward with their own legislation after the House GOP missed its self-imposed deadline last week. Both chambers broadly agree on what they want to pass via reconciliation, but they differ significantly on how to achieve their goals.

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington surprised some members of the Republican conference by announcing that his panel would be advancing a reconciliation resolution. Republicans in both the House and Senate are aiming to use their majorities to pass a conservative policy overhaul through the budget reconciliation process.

The Senate’s proposal is projected to be deficit-neutral, while the House is considering a bill with a minimum total between $1 trillion and $2.5 trillion. House Republicans’ initial proposals for baseline reductions in government spending were met with resistance from fiscal hawks, causing delays in advancing the bill through committee.

Speaker Johnson has expressed concerns about the Senate’s proposal, stating that it would be a nonstarter in the House. Tensions are growing among House Republicans, with some criticizing Johnson’s leadership for the lack of a definitive roadmap. Senator Lindsey Graham hopes to advance the Senate’s plan by the end of Thursday.

The Senate’s plan differs from the House’s in that it separates Trump’s priorities into two separate bills, with funding for border security and national defense in one bill, and tax cut extensions in another. House GOP leaders are concerned that delaying the tax cuts could leave Republicans with little time to address them before the existing provisions expire at the end of the year.

Overall, the House and Senate are facing challenges as they navigate the federal budget talks and work to advance their respective proposals. The coming days will be crucial as both chambers strive to reach a consensus and move forward with their budget plans.