Trump comments deepen GOP disagreement over how to pass his agenda
President-elect Trump’s public back-and-forth over whether Republicans should pass his agenda in one or two massive packages is deepening the disagreements among lawmakers over how to tackle the ambitious undertaking.
Trump over the weekend put a stake in the ground by calling for “one powerful bill” that would deal with energy, the border, taxes and potentially the debt limit. But he seemingly undercut himself less than a day later, saying in an interview Monday morning that he is open to a two-bill track, muddying the talks over how the party should proceed.
The president-elect’s ambiguity is making the debate over strategy even messier on Capitol Hill, where top lawmakers are openly recognizing that the effort will be an uphill climb, no matter what path they choose.
“There are going to be challenges in any way we do it,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told The Hill. “This is hard stuff — really hard stuff, very heavy lifting. A lot of hard work ahead of us, but it’s got to get done.”
For much of the past month, top Republicans have been split on how the process should play out. Republicans in both chambers intend to pass large pieces of Trump’s agenda through a process known as reconciliation, which bypasses the Senate filibuster and would require only GOP votes.
Thune had proposed a two-bill plan, with an initial bill dealing with energy and border issues and a second one extending the Trump tax cuts and tackling other issues. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), meanwhile, was among the leading proponents of one “beautiful” bill, as Trump put it.
Returning to the Capitol on Monday, top lawmakers in both chambers appeared to interpret Trump’s comments as backing their own side. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who sits on the Appropriations Committee, for example, said she expected clarity on one or two bills “this week,” noting that she still prefers a pair of measures, while Smith suggested that moving a single bill was a done deal.
“You guys really like to stir up s---,” Smith told The Hill when asked about Trump’s interview with Hugh Hewitt, appearing to be miffed by questions surrounding Trump’s comments earlier in the day.
“What he said is his preference is one bill, he just wants it passed,” Smith said, adding that he was not concerned with the possibility that Trump walked back the one-bill idea. “Absolutely not. This is s---. Absolutely not.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), for his part, told reporters “the plan in the House has been one bill” and that the “assumption right now” is there will be a single bill. But he said lawmakers are in the process of “figuring out the most efficient and efficacious way” to move Trump’s agenda, citing disagreements in the Senate.
He noted that he had spoken to the president-elect and Thune Monday morning.
“The Senate has a little different opinion and perspective on reconciliation and what the wisest strategy is than the House, and that’s okay, that’s part of this process. As you all know, we build consensus around these ideas, but we are going to get this mission accomplished,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t get too wound up about what the exact strategy is.”
Talks centering on reconciliation have been going on dating back to the summer as Republicans salivated over the opportunity to move their favored policies without appeasing Democrats.
Extending the tax cuts that were put into place in 2017, many of which expire at the end of the year, has long been atop the wishlist of members. However, dealing with the border has also been a top priority as it was one of the leading campaign issues for the party throughout the 2024 campaign.
Trump is set to meet with a diverse array of House Republicans over the weekend, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, GOP lawmakers who want to do away with the state-and-local tax deduction cap, and others.
Some Senate Republicans remain firmly in the two-bill camp, including a number of key Trump allies. Incoming Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has argued that a delay in passing border provisions would be harmful to national security and is unwise.
“Delaying border security is a dangerous idea,” Graham said, adding that if he had his druthers, a border bill could be executed by mid-February. “If you can do it all in April, maybe it works, but I’m very leery.”
Johnson over the weekend laid out an ambitious timeline for moving a single reconciliation bill, aiming to pass a budget resolution — which unlocks the obscure process — in early February, then passing the entire package the first week of April and sending it to the Senate.
Notably, Florida is scheduled to hold special elections on April 1 to replace Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), who is leaving the House to join the Trump administration, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who declined to take the oath of office this Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration for attorney general.
Republicans are expected to retain those seats, earning a precious two votes for the high-stakes package.
“That would put that bill on the president's desk for signature by the end of April,” Johnson said in a “Sunday Morning Futures” interview, noting that the date could slip to May. “That would be fantastic.”
However, many consider that timeline wishful thinking.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), an ally of both Trump and Johnson, told reporters that passage by April would be “very difficult,” adding that a pre-Memorial Day timeframe is “doable.”
“But I think that’s going to be tough,” he said.
Mullin also indicated that the entire exercise — including timing, what will be able to pass and how it is passed — will depend on what the House can manage.
“The House is a very thoughtful but dysfunctional body right now,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what [GOP senators] want. They’ve got to go first. … We can say all we want. We don’t have a vote in that chamber. I don’t disagree with my colleagues that are saying either way. It just isn’t up to us.”
As lawmakers engage in the one-or-two-bill debate, some Republicans are staying on the sidelines entirely, deferring to Trump’s ultimate play call.
“However President Trump wants to do it, I’m fine,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who played golf with Trump and Vice President-elect Vance. “There are arguments on whichever way you cut it. You get an early win on the board or one big, beautiful bill. I’m sort of indifferent. I just want us to be effective.”
“He’s going to be the quarterback on it,” he said of Trump. “He’s going to make the call.”
Emily Brooks contributed.