Johnson informs House Republicans that Trump desires a single 'big beautiful' reconciliation package
Trump’s decision represents a victory for House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith.
TroibNews 
On Saturday, Speaker Mike Johnson informed Republicans that President-elect Donald Trump is advocating for a single reconciliation package rather than the two-package approach that Republican leadership has been promoting, according to three individuals present during the discussions with PMG.
Johnson's announcement coincided with a closed-door meeting of Republicans at Fort McNair, aimed at devising their strategy for advancing a comprehensive package that addresses border, tax, and energy issues, which will form the foundation of their legislative agenda. Trump expressed his desire for “one big beautiful bill,” as recounted by Johnson during the retreat, according to three lawmakers.
This position marks a departure from the proposal by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who suggested a two-bill approach, where Republicans would first pass a border and energy bill, followed by a tax bill. Previously, Johnson had signaled the intention to pursue two bills, but this was largely seen as a way to align with Trump's perceived preferences and secure quick legislative wins. Thune's presence at the House GOP retreat on Saturday was confirmed by a knowledgeable source.
Trump's directive is a victory for House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith, who has been advocating for the passage of one bill instead of two. Smith and his supporters cautioned that separating the tax package into its own reconciliation bill could jeopardize its passage. Major divisions exist within the GOP regarding tax strategy, and border and energy elements are seen as necessary incentives to gather GOP support.
On Saturday, Smith was among the lawmakers presenting proposals to rank-and-file GOP members through various panels. He remained at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago over New Year’s Eve to participate in meetings regarding reconciliation, as reported by two Republicans.
Trump's spokesperson did not respond immediately to a request for comments.
Additionally, Johnson met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Day to discuss 2025 strategies. Though Johnson has kept details of the meeting close to the vest, several House Republicans over the past few days have suggested an increasing expectation that the single-bill strategy would be adopted, with some backing from Trump’s inner circle.
Advocates of the two-track strategy had pitched it as a route to achieving an early victory on one of the party's top priorities—border security—while allowing Johnson more time to consolidate his slim majority, which will decrease by two members due to appointments to the Trump administration, bringing their total down to 217 for the foreseeable future. This strategy enjoyed backing from high-profile supporters beyond Thune, including incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, Senator Lindsey Graham, and members of the House Freedom Caucus.
Moreover, Trump's decision complicates agreements previously struck by House leadership to raise the debt ceiling through reconciliation. During last year’s government funding negotiations, House GOP leaders indicated they would increase the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion as part of the first reconciliation package, alongside a $2.5 trillion spending cut.
However, GOP leaders have yet to finalize a coordinated plan across both chambers and with Trump, as reported by three individuals familiar with the ongoing discussions. Various options are currently being evaluated, including incorporating the debt ceiling into the reconciliation process as previously debated.
“There is still a lot to figure out on debt limit,” acknowledged a source familiar with the ongoing reconciliation talks.
As Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris noted in an interview with Fox News Live on Saturday, “It can’t be the first order of business. It took us months to do the first tax cuts bill nine years ago. The bottom line is that, if that’s what the president wants, he’s going to have to wait until the summer for it all to get ironed out.”
However, Republican members largely held back any concerns during Saturday morning's discussions, opting to align with Trump's strategic preferences. “No one is fighting it. If that’s the Trump call, that’s the play we will execute,” remarked one GOP lawmaker.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Johnson's announcement coincided with a closed-door meeting of Republicans at Fort McNair, aimed at devising their strategy for advancing a comprehensive package that addresses border, tax, and energy issues, which will form the foundation of their legislative agenda. Trump expressed his desire for “one big beautiful bill,” as recounted by Johnson during the retreat, according to three lawmakers.
This position marks a departure from the proposal by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who suggested a two-bill approach, where Republicans would first pass a border and energy bill, followed by a tax bill. Previously, Johnson had signaled the intention to pursue two bills, but this was largely seen as a way to align with Trump's perceived preferences and secure quick legislative wins. Thune's presence at the House GOP retreat on Saturday was confirmed by a knowledgeable source.
Trump's directive is a victory for House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith, who has been advocating for the passage of one bill instead of two. Smith and his supporters cautioned that separating the tax package into its own reconciliation bill could jeopardize its passage. Major divisions exist within the GOP regarding tax strategy, and border and energy elements are seen as necessary incentives to gather GOP support.
On Saturday, Smith was among the lawmakers presenting proposals to rank-and-file GOP members through various panels. He remained at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago over New Year’s Eve to participate in meetings regarding reconciliation, as reported by two Republicans.
Trump's spokesperson did not respond immediately to a request for comments.
Additionally, Johnson met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Day to discuss 2025 strategies. Though Johnson has kept details of the meeting close to the vest, several House Republicans over the past few days have suggested an increasing expectation that the single-bill strategy would be adopted, with some backing from Trump’s inner circle.
Advocates of the two-track strategy had pitched it as a route to achieving an early victory on one of the party's top priorities—border security—while allowing Johnson more time to consolidate his slim majority, which will decrease by two members due to appointments to the Trump administration, bringing their total down to 217 for the foreseeable future. This strategy enjoyed backing from high-profile supporters beyond Thune, including incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, Senator Lindsey Graham, and members of the House Freedom Caucus.
Moreover, Trump's decision complicates agreements previously struck by House leadership to raise the debt ceiling through reconciliation. During last year’s government funding negotiations, House GOP leaders indicated they would increase the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion as part of the first reconciliation package, alongside a $2.5 trillion spending cut.
However, GOP leaders have yet to finalize a coordinated plan across both chambers and with Trump, as reported by three individuals familiar with the ongoing discussions. Various options are currently being evaluated, including incorporating the debt ceiling into the reconciliation process as previously debated.
“There is still a lot to figure out on debt limit,” acknowledged a source familiar with the ongoing reconciliation talks.
As Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris noted in an interview with Fox News Live on Saturday, “It can’t be the first order of business. It took us months to do the first tax cuts bill nine years ago. The bottom line is that, if that’s what the president wants, he’s going to have to wait until the summer for it all to get ironed out.”
However, Republican members largely held back any concerns during Saturday morning's discussions, opting to align with Trump's strategic preferences. “No one is fighting it. If that’s the Trump call, that’s the play we will execute,” remarked one GOP lawmaker.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
