Mike Johnson Faces New Challenge from Lindsey Graham
Graham stands prepared for action should Johnson's strategy for the Trump agenda falter.
TroibNews 
Speaker Mike Johnson faces challenges from hard-line conservative ideologues within the House Republican ranks while striving to advance the core of former President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. He must also be mindful of a prominent and seasoned Republican counterpart in the Senate.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has been engaging in informal discussions with some members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, sharing insights and guidance on substantial spending cuts as he prepares to facilitate a party-line border, energy, and defense bill in his capacity as Chair of the Budget Committee.
According to a Freedom Caucus member, Chairs Andy Harris and Rep. Chip Roy are informally leading dialogues with senators, including Graham. Lawmakers from both the House and Senate report that these discussions aim to unify the Republican party, a goal that has been challenging to achieve thus far. Graham's outreach has garnered implicit support from other GOP senators, who recognize that Senate actions must satisfy the House's most conservative members.
Rep. Ralph Norman expressed a need for collaboration, stating, “We need their help, and they need ours. It would be better if we got together.”
However, this strategy contrasts with Johnson’s approach, guided by his committee chairs and fellow party leaders, which aims to consolidate not only the Senate’s energy, border, and defense initiatives but also a complex tax overhaul into what Johnson envisions as “one, big beautiful bill” — a plan he believes will be too substantial to fail. Graham’s preference for a two-bill strategy has aligned him and Senate Majority Leader John Thune with the Freedom Caucus.
The effectiveness of this plan may come to a head in the House Budget Committee this month, where Graham’s counterpart, Jodey Arrington of Texas, is responsible for drafting a fiscal blueprint for the all-in-one bill. This presents a significant challenge for Johnson to achieve the cohesion he needs to see his plan executed.
Graham has yet to announce a timeline for advancing his own budget blueprint in committee, which is a critical step in the reconciliation process. He has been conducting private meetings with fellow committee members, with speculation that action could occur in the next two to three weeks. Thune indicated that the text of the plan is ready.
“They’re in the camp of doing border first, and so am I,” Graham stated about his interactions with Roy and other Freedom Caucus members. “I told them to go find spending cuts that are reconciliation-compliant and get the votes.”
In addition to the Freedom Caucus, Graham has been reaching out to other House Republicans, mentioning a desire to engage with Sen. Ron Johnson, who has proposed the idea of three reconciliation bills.
The emerging partnership with the House GOP's hard-liners reflects Graham’s significant political evolution over the past decade. Once a vocal critic of Trump, he has since become one of the former president’s most loyal supporters and a regular golf companion. Now, as Budget Committee chair, he plays a crucial role in facilitating Trump’s legislative initiatives while navigating the resulting GOP divisions.
“We want to be respectful of the House,” said Sen. John Kennedy, a fellow Budget Committee member, regarding Graham’s timeline. “I think you’re going to see us move pretty quickly.”
Despite seeming contradictions, the informal alliance between Graham and the Freedom Caucus is focused on a reconciliation strategy that divides the process into two parts. The goal is to secure an early victory on border issues before confronting the more complex challenge of a tax package later this year. The Freedom Caucus is also supporting a defense funding increase that aligns with Graham’s priorities, demonstrated by a letter they sent to House leadership proposing additional Pentagon funding.
“We’re talking about spending stuff. … We've been talking pretty regularly,” said Roy, who described Graham as “a friend.” He emphasized that the Freedom Caucus proposal seeks a “strong defense” while also advocating for efficiency in discretionary spending cuts.
Graham is not the only Senate Republican engaging in discussions with House counterparts as they seek a viable path forward. Senator Markwayne Mullin has a friendship with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, while Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo has also communicated with Smith, Roy, and other House Republicans regarding the forthcoming tax debate.
Yet, Graham faces skepticism within his party. Some GOP senators favor the one-bill approach, which aligns with Trump’s preference, expressing doubts about the House being able to manage the math required for a two-bill strategy.
“The problem is, I don’t think the House is going to pass what we pass, but I think anything the House passes, we can pass,” remarked Senator John Cornyn, a Budget Committee member. When asked about Roy's preference for a two-bill approach, he quipped: “Well, God bless him.”
Kennedy, who works closely with influential members of his Louisiana delegation — Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise — noted the desire for one comprehensive package due to the narrow margin in the House and the assumption that no Democrats will support the bill.
“They’re only going to get one bite at reconciliation. They don’t want to go back to the well twice,” Kennedy explained regarding his House colleagues, describing the challenges facing Speaker Johnson in managing a diverse caucus.
House GOP leaders are aware of the ongoing negotiations but remain committed to Johnson’s one-bill plan. “It's entirely their right — that's what I think about it,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer stated, referring to the Freedom Caucus's approach. “When that is ultimately done, our speaker has said he wants one bill. That's what he's designed the timeline for.”
This report includes contributions from Meredith Lee Hill, Katherine Tully-McManus, and Jennifer Scholtes.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has been engaging in informal discussions with some members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, sharing insights and guidance on substantial spending cuts as he prepares to facilitate a party-line border, energy, and defense bill in his capacity as Chair of the Budget Committee.
According to a Freedom Caucus member, Chairs Andy Harris and Rep. Chip Roy are informally leading dialogues with senators, including Graham. Lawmakers from both the House and Senate report that these discussions aim to unify the Republican party, a goal that has been challenging to achieve thus far. Graham's outreach has garnered implicit support from other GOP senators, who recognize that Senate actions must satisfy the House's most conservative members.
Rep. Ralph Norman expressed a need for collaboration, stating, “We need their help, and they need ours. It would be better if we got together.”
However, this strategy contrasts with Johnson’s approach, guided by his committee chairs and fellow party leaders, which aims to consolidate not only the Senate’s energy, border, and defense initiatives but also a complex tax overhaul into what Johnson envisions as “one, big beautiful bill” — a plan he believes will be too substantial to fail. Graham’s preference for a two-bill strategy has aligned him and Senate Majority Leader John Thune with the Freedom Caucus.
The effectiveness of this plan may come to a head in the House Budget Committee this month, where Graham’s counterpart, Jodey Arrington of Texas, is responsible for drafting a fiscal blueprint for the all-in-one bill. This presents a significant challenge for Johnson to achieve the cohesion he needs to see his plan executed.
Graham has yet to announce a timeline for advancing his own budget blueprint in committee, which is a critical step in the reconciliation process. He has been conducting private meetings with fellow committee members, with speculation that action could occur in the next two to three weeks. Thune indicated that the text of the plan is ready.
“They’re in the camp of doing border first, and so am I,” Graham stated about his interactions with Roy and other Freedom Caucus members. “I told them to go find spending cuts that are reconciliation-compliant and get the votes.”
In addition to the Freedom Caucus, Graham has been reaching out to other House Republicans, mentioning a desire to engage with Sen. Ron Johnson, who has proposed the idea of three reconciliation bills.
The emerging partnership with the House GOP's hard-liners reflects Graham’s significant political evolution over the past decade. Once a vocal critic of Trump, he has since become one of the former president’s most loyal supporters and a regular golf companion. Now, as Budget Committee chair, he plays a crucial role in facilitating Trump’s legislative initiatives while navigating the resulting GOP divisions.
“We want to be respectful of the House,” said Sen. John Kennedy, a fellow Budget Committee member, regarding Graham’s timeline. “I think you’re going to see us move pretty quickly.”
Despite seeming contradictions, the informal alliance between Graham and the Freedom Caucus is focused on a reconciliation strategy that divides the process into two parts. The goal is to secure an early victory on border issues before confronting the more complex challenge of a tax package later this year. The Freedom Caucus is also supporting a defense funding increase that aligns with Graham’s priorities, demonstrated by a letter they sent to House leadership proposing additional Pentagon funding.
“We’re talking about spending stuff. … We've been talking pretty regularly,” said Roy, who described Graham as “a friend.” He emphasized that the Freedom Caucus proposal seeks a “strong defense” while also advocating for efficiency in discretionary spending cuts.
Graham is not the only Senate Republican engaging in discussions with House counterparts as they seek a viable path forward. Senator Markwayne Mullin has a friendship with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, while Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo has also communicated with Smith, Roy, and other House Republicans regarding the forthcoming tax debate.
Yet, Graham faces skepticism within his party. Some GOP senators favor the one-bill approach, which aligns with Trump’s preference, expressing doubts about the House being able to manage the math required for a two-bill strategy.
“The problem is, I don’t think the House is going to pass what we pass, but I think anything the House passes, we can pass,” remarked Senator John Cornyn, a Budget Committee member. When asked about Roy's preference for a two-bill approach, he quipped: “Well, God bless him.”
Kennedy, who works closely with influential members of his Louisiana delegation — Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise — noted the desire for one comprehensive package due to the narrow margin in the House and the assumption that no Democrats will support the bill.
“They’re only going to get one bite at reconciliation. They don’t want to go back to the well twice,” Kennedy explained regarding his House colleagues, describing the challenges facing Speaker Johnson in managing a diverse caucus.
House GOP leaders are aware of the ongoing negotiations but remain committed to Johnson’s one-bill plan. “It's entirely their right — that's what I think about it,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer stated, referring to the Freedom Caucus's approach. “When that is ultimately done, our speaker has said he wants one bill. That's what he's designed the timeline for.”
This report includes contributions from Meredith Lee Hill, Katherine Tully-McManus, and Jennifer Scholtes.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
