Even though Republicans control both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, they're butting heads over the best way to proceed with their first major legislative push. And President Donald Trump's administration isn't making it any easier.
Congress is on recess this week, and GOP leaders in the House and Senate are now working on competing versions of budget-related bills in their respective chambers. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is proceeding with his plan to pass two different budget bills, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is attempting to cram all of Trump's priorities into one legislative package. Trump recently endorsed the House version in a Truth Social post, calling for "ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL."
"The House and Senate are doing a SPECTACULAR job of working together as one unified, and unbeatable, TEAM, however, unlike the Lindsey Graham version of the very important Legislation currently being discussed, the House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it!" Trump wrote.
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But according to Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio, Republicans' attempts to get clarity from Vice President JD Vance have been unsuccessful. During a Wednesday lunch meeting with Republicans, Vance reportedly "echoed Trump’s preference for one bill but said he still wants the Senate to continue on its own track with two bills."
"Frustration building after Vance meeting because [Republicans] still see this conflict as unresolved," Desiderio tweeted Wednesday. "They believe Vance personally supports the Senate’s track and is trying to manage Trump siding with the House. Which means nothing has changed."
Desiderio also reported that Vance emphasized that he was "not telling you what to do" and tried to assure Senate Republicans that Trump "won't attack you" for pursuing a strategy different than the one he supports. But Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) pushed back, stressing that Republicans "need to be on the same page," especially concerning whether the United States will still support Ukraine in its war with Russia.
The House budget resolution that Trump endorsed would cut roughly $2 trillion from federal agencies across the board, and would also cut hundreds of billions of dollars in federal support for state Medicaid programs. As of Tuesday night, Johnson was attempting to persuade at least a dozen holdouts among the House Republican Conference to support the bill despite their various concerns. Johnson can currently only afford one Republican defection if he hopes to pass legislation through his chamber without any Democratic support.
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