WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader John Thune has initiated plans for a Senate vote on a budget proposal that is poised to significantly enhance funding for defense and border security, leaving the contentious issue of tax cuts to be addressed later in the year.
The objective behind this move is to provide President Donald Trump with an early legislative victory and to exert pressure on House Republicans to align with the Senate’s approach rather than follow a separate, potentially more comprehensive route that could take much longer to finalize.
On Wednesday, Trump expressed his preference for the House’s budget resolution, urging both chambers to adopt it. He stated on social media, “The House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it.” Nevertheless, Thune remains unfazed and intends to push forward with the Senate plan, despite Trump’s overt inclination towards the House proposal.
Thune commented on the situation, saying, “If the House can produce one big beautiful bill, we’re prepared to work with them to get that across the finish line, but we believe the president also likes optionality.” It’s important to note that the resolution is not a law and does not need the president’s signature; however, its passage lays the groundwork for Republicans to implement their priorities later in the year, regardless of potential Democratic opposition.
So, what does the Senate budget plan entail? The budget resolution, drafted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, proposes an increase of around $342 billion for border security, military, and Coast Guard funding. Graham indicated that this spending would unfold over four years and would be balanced by cuts in other federal spending, though the specifics of those reductions remain unclear within the resolution itself.
Following a party-line vote last week, the budget resolution has directed relevant Senate committees to allocate additional funds, with the Homeland Security Committee expected to oversee up to $175 billion, the Armed Services Committee up to $150 billion, and around $20 billion for the Commerce panel. This allocation is in addition to the annual funding that Congress typically allocates through a separate legislative process.
Graham emphasized the urgency of the increased funding by stating a commitment to “build the wall, deport illegal aliens, and create additional detention space so we don’t have to release illegal immigrants into the community. And God knows the military needs more money in these dangerous times.”
As for the immediate agenda, the Senate began discussions over Graham’s budget plan on Tuesday, which opens the floor to 50 hours of debate. Following this period, a “vote-arama” will occur—an intensive series of votes allowing senators to propose amendments to the plan.
These votes can extend late into the night, leading to a final decision as legislators manage the intense scrutiny that comes with these challenging policies. Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, indicated that Republicans should prepare for a late night session.
“We are going to make sure the people back home know that Elon Musk is firing VA doctors and food safety inspectors — for no cause whatsoever — and illegally defunding the programs that Americans care about,” she remarked.
Moving forward, after the Senate passes a budget resolution, various committees will begin developing legislation aligned with the budget’s directives to identify budgetary savings or expanded funding. However, this process won’t commence until both the House and Senate can agree on identical budget frameworks.
Ultimately, House and Senate Republicans must resolve their discrepancies to leverage a process that enables the budget to progress through the Senate with a simple majority, avoiding a Democratic filibuster. Presently, they find themselves in a rivalry to gain Trump’s favor.
In the House, momentum has shifted after previous delays. The House Budget Committee has moved its more comprehensive budget proposal to the floor, which is anticipated to be voted on next week when Congress reconvenes. Led by Speaker Mike Johnson, this plan aims to facilitate upwards of $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $300 billion in new expenditures while also mandating reductions of no less than $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade. Additionally, it proposes raising the debt ceiling to ensure the U.S. government can continue borrowing and meeting its financial obligations.
According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the House’s budget approach could result in close to a $4 trillion increase in national debt over the next ten years. Johnson’s team faces a delicate balancing act, as they can only afford one dissenting vote if Democrats are unified in opposition. Some Republicans are voicing concerns regarding the potential cuts to essential programs like Medicaid, yet there remains substantial pressure on them to support Trump’s legislative aims to avoid unfavorable repercussions.
