Republicans Concerned That Time Is Slipping Away to Enact Trump's Agenda
House and Senate Republicans are becoming increasingly entrenched in a stalemate regarding the advancement of President Donald Trump’s extensive legislative agenda.
TroibNews 
Congressional Republicans scored a significant win by pushing a funding bill through the House, but they continue to face challenges in advancing President Donald Trump’s key legislative priorities.
House and Senate Republicans have yet to come to an agreement on a budget plan that would provide the framework for Trump's legislative agenda, creating tension ahead of an upcoming meeting between GOP senators and Trump at the White House. The Republicans must find common ground on spending cuts to offset the costs of their major initiatives, including tax cuts, border security, defense, and energy policy. There’s also disagreement on when and how to address the debt ceiling to avoid a potential economic crisis.
Despite the funding bill's passage, one shared sentiment among House and Senate Republicans is their inability to present any major legislative achievements for the new president.
“I am worried about it,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, in an interview.
Speaker Mike Johnson recognized this week that there is little time for celebration following the House's approval of his stopgap funding bill on Tuesday.
“Everybody says ‘congratulations.’ And they high-five me. And then I go right back to work,” Johnson stated during a fireside chat at Georgetown University Tuesday. “This is going to be the heavy lift.”
The uncertainty about the legislative path reflects the reality that Republicans are gearing up for some of the most challenging negotiations on Capitol Hill in years, with varying GOP factions clashing over fiscal policy and the future of federal programs. Republicans are just starting to work out the details, and Trump’s instructions have been minimal, occasionally muddling the process. Critical campaign promises made by Trump and Republicans during their campaign to regain control of Washington hang in the balance.
“We've confirmed his Cabinet,” Hawley noted. “That's great. But if you look at the legislation …” Hawley paused, leaving his thought unfinished.
Senate Finance Committee Republicans are hopeful to resolve the stalemate during their White House meeting with Trump on Thursday. Johnson is also aiming to enhance cross-chamber meetings with party leaders and key committee chairs when lawmakers return later in the month from a scheduled break.
Successful coordination is essential, as both chambers must approve the same budget resolution before they can advance the tax, energy, defense, and border policy legislation through the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to bypass a filibuster.
However, House GOP leaders are growing frustrated with what they perceive as the Senate’s slow pace, especially since House Republicans approved their budget plan two weeks prior.
To expedite the process, Majority Leader Steve Scalise has quietly encouraged GOP committee chairs to publicly criticize what he called the Senate’s unacceptable timeline. Those House GOP leaders were particularly alarmed when Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Finance Committee member, indicated that the reconciliation bill might not be ready until August.
This suggestion raised concerns among White House officials, who worry that the House's approach to passing an overarching bill could delay the rapid allocation of funding for border security and mass deportations. Johnson, facing pressure from hard-right factions, quickly dismissed the late summer timeline.
“August is far too late. We’re going to move that ball a lot faster than that,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday.
Instead, during his Georgetown talk, Johnson proposed an ambitious goal: to have the comprehensive bill ready for a House vote before Easter, with the House scheduled for another two-week break starting April 10.
Senior Republicans expect a kind of mini-conference meeting to bridge differences between the two chambers' budget reconciliation visions. Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have also been meeting regularly, including on Tuesday night, to determine a way forward.
"This is just a long, arduous process, but we'll get there,” Thune remarked.
Thune and Senate Republicans, however, continue to navigate intricate tax policy plans, which may lead to adjustments in the House budget framework regarding those matters.
GOP senators are issuing subtle warnings about a potential conflict over whether a debt ceiling increase can be incorporated into the large reconciliation bill, as House Republican leaders and Trump advocate. While senators have been cautious about publicly stating a timeline, they haven't outright rejected the August proposal.
“I’m for as soon as possible. I visited with the speaker last night. We want to get this done quickly,” said Sen. John Barrasso, the chamber’s majority whip. “But I’m not going to give you a deadline date.”
If the timeline for the bill drags into late summer, a scenario many Hill Republicans have feared since early this year, Johnson could face new challenges.
That scenario would bring renewed tensions from his right flank, who are already dissatisfied with delays in securing additional border funding. Additionally, Republicans would have to manage the debt limit outside of their reconciliation plans, as the debt ceiling could be reached as early as this summer.
That situation presents a politically contentious issue Johnson would prefer to avoid.
“It’ll be part of reconciliation,” Johnson stated in a brief interview this week, referring to the debt limit. “So, we pretty well have that covered.”
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
House and Senate Republicans have yet to come to an agreement on a budget plan that would provide the framework for Trump's legislative agenda, creating tension ahead of an upcoming meeting between GOP senators and Trump at the White House. The Republicans must find common ground on spending cuts to offset the costs of their major initiatives, including tax cuts, border security, defense, and energy policy. There’s also disagreement on when and how to address the debt ceiling to avoid a potential economic crisis.
Despite the funding bill's passage, one shared sentiment among House and Senate Republicans is their inability to present any major legislative achievements for the new president.
“I am worried about it,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, in an interview.
Speaker Mike Johnson recognized this week that there is little time for celebration following the House's approval of his stopgap funding bill on Tuesday.
“Everybody says ‘congratulations.’ And they high-five me. And then I go right back to work,” Johnson stated during a fireside chat at Georgetown University Tuesday. “This is going to be the heavy lift.”
The uncertainty about the legislative path reflects the reality that Republicans are gearing up for some of the most challenging negotiations on Capitol Hill in years, with varying GOP factions clashing over fiscal policy and the future of federal programs. Republicans are just starting to work out the details, and Trump’s instructions have been minimal, occasionally muddling the process. Critical campaign promises made by Trump and Republicans during their campaign to regain control of Washington hang in the balance.
“We've confirmed his Cabinet,” Hawley noted. “That's great. But if you look at the legislation …” Hawley paused, leaving his thought unfinished.
Senate Finance Committee Republicans are hopeful to resolve the stalemate during their White House meeting with Trump on Thursday. Johnson is also aiming to enhance cross-chamber meetings with party leaders and key committee chairs when lawmakers return later in the month from a scheduled break.
Successful coordination is essential, as both chambers must approve the same budget resolution before they can advance the tax, energy, defense, and border policy legislation through the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to bypass a filibuster.
However, House GOP leaders are growing frustrated with what they perceive as the Senate’s slow pace, especially since House Republicans approved their budget plan two weeks prior.
To expedite the process, Majority Leader Steve Scalise has quietly encouraged GOP committee chairs to publicly criticize what he called the Senate’s unacceptable timeline. Those House GOP leaders were particularly alarmed when Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Finance Committee member, indicated that the reconciliation bill might not be ready until August.
This suggestion raised concerns among White House officials, who worry that the House's approach to passing an overarching bill could delay the rapid allocation of funding for border security and mass deportations. Johnson, facing pressure from hard-right factions, quickly dismissed the late summer timeline.
“August is far too late. We’re going to move that ball a lot faster than that,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday.
Instead, during his Georgetown talk, Johnson proposed an ambitious goal: to have the comprehensive bill ready for a House vote before Easter, with the House scheduled for another two-week break starting April 10.
Senior Republicans expect a kind of mini-conference meeting to bridge differences between the two chambers' budget reconciliation visions. Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have also been meeting regularly, including on Tuesday night, to determine a way forward.
"This is just a long, arduous process, but we'll get there,” Thune remarked.
Thune and Senate Republicans, however, continue to navigate intricate tax policy plans, which may lead to adjustments in the House budget framework regarding those matters.
GOP senators are issuing subtle warnings about a potential conflict over whether a debt ceiling increase can be incorporated into the large reconciliation bill, as House Republican leaders and Trump advocate. While senators have been cautious about publicly stating a timeline, they haven't outright rejected the August proposal.
“I’m for as soon as possible. I visited with the speaker last night. We want to get this done quickly,” said Sen. John Barrasso, the chamber’s majority whip. “But I’m not going to give you a deadline date.”
If the timeline for the bill drags into late summer, a scenario many Hill Republicans have feared since early this year, Johnson could face new challenges.
That scenario would bring renewed tensions from his right flank, who are already dissatisfied with delays in securing additional border funding. Additionally, Republicans would have to manage the debt limit outside of their reconciliation plans, as the debt ceiling could be reached as early as this summer.
That situation presents a politically contentious issue Johnson would prefer to avoid.
“It’ll be part of reconciliation,” Johnson stated in a brief interview this week, referring to the debt limit. “So, we pretty well have that covered.”
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
