WASHINGTON — House Republicans are intensively working following a lengthy meeting at the White House to fulfill President Donald Trump’s request for a substantial budget package. The proposal includes approximately $3 trillion in tax cuts, significant cuts to various federal programs, and the potential for an extension of the national debt limit.
Speaker Mike Johnson organized GOP lawmakers to work late into the night to meet a self-imposed Friday deadline for producing the budget package. This comes after the original timeline was missed for drafting a bill expected to begin its lengthy passage through Congress and ultimately reach the president’s desk.
Trump’s straightforward message as he navigated the nearly five-hour meeting was consistent: Get it done. According to Rep. Lisa McClain, the House GOP Conference chair, Trump effectively conveyed his desired end result, highlighting his focus on outcomes.
The developing budget package from House Republicans is set to make current tax cuts permanent, reduce federal program spending, and ensure that Trump has adequate funding for his deportation initiative while also continuing the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Additionally, it may include provisions to raise the nation’s debt ceiling to allow for further borrowing and avoid a federal default.
This effort presents a considerable challenge for Congress, as GOP leaders in both the House and Senate are looking to Trump for guidance on how best to proceed. However, the president has provided limited details, instead insisting on tangible results.
Republicans face mounting frustration as time slips away without progress on this priority that their party has championed while in control of Washington. Congressional offices have been overwhelmed by calls protesting cost-cutting measures spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk against federal programs and services.
At the outset of Thursday’s session, Trump set the collaborative tone for the meeting before leaving lawmakers to work through the finer points. Republican senators are scheduled to meet at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club for further discussions on Friday.
Johnson expressed optimism after the meeting, stating, “Very positive developments today.” He noted gratitude toward the president for his leadership in helping unify the party’s efforts.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed the media that the session focused on the “tax priorities of the Trump administration,” which included the intention to eliminate federal taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. Renewing the tax cuts initiated by Trump in 2017 was also a significant topic.
Johnson requires near-unanimous support from his members to advance any bill facing opposition from Democrats. The Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the Senate, which allows little room for dissent.
House Republicans reconvened in the evening to ensure that all members would back the emerging plan, particularly concerning spending cuts that might create unease among lawmakers by impacting essential government services widely relied upon across the nation.
Texas Rep. Jodey Arrington, chair of the House Budget Committee, mentioned that his committee is prepared to initiate hearings on the proposed budget package next week. However, the delay in Johnson’s timeline has allowed the Senate to take initiative.
Led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, Senate Republicans are advocating for a two-phase strategy that begins with a smaller bill addressing funding for Trump’s border wall and deportation plans, aiming to follow this with a more comprehensive tax cut extension package before year-end deadlines.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, head of the Senate Budget Committee, announced his committee would also proceed with hearings next week to expedite progress. The different approaches from the House and Senate are turning into what resembles a competitive race to advance the GOP’s agenda.
The House GOP largely seeks to create what Trump refers to as a “big, beautiful bill” encompassing $3 trillion in tax cuts along with financing for deportation efforts and wall construction. This plan involves extensive reductions across various government programs to mitigate the costs of the tax cuts.
Graham’s smaller proposal stands at around $300 billion, which includes financial provisions for border security and increased military funding, primarily offset by rolling back Biden-era green energy initiatives.
Internal divisions within House Republicans make Graham’s plan contentious, and they are also wrestling with differing ideas among themselves. House GOP leadership is advocating for budget cuts expected to yield $1 trillion in savings over the next decade, while members of the more conservative House Freedom Caucus demand cuts totaling at least twice that amount.
Trump has emphasized that he is more focused on achieving desired policy outcomes than on the specific methods Congress chooses to pursue them. Rep. McClain characterized the tone of this meeting as a step beyond an initial meeting last month, indicating a more serious and business-oriented discussion. “This was a very different meeting,” she concluded, remaining positive and hopeful about future collaboration.
