House Republicans on Wednesday released a long-awaited budget resolution aimed at advancing former President Donald Trump’s legislative priorities, breaking through an internal impasse that had stalled negotiations for days. The move sets up a high-stakes clash with Senate Republicans, who are charting a different course.
The resolution lays the groundwork for the budget reconciliation process, a legislative maneuver that allows Republicans to bypass Democratic opposition in the Senate and push through major policy changes with a simple majority. It includes provisions to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increase border security funding, and reshape energy policy.
The House Budget Committee is set to debate and advance the resolution on Thursday at 10 a.m. EST, marking the first official step in the reconciliation process. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are moving forward with their own budget resolution, which follows a different strategy, putting the two chambers on a collision course over how best to enact Trump’s agenda.
Key Budget Provisions
The House GOP resolution sets broad fiscal targets, including:
A $4.5 trillion cap on deficit increases to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
A $4 trillion increase in the debt limit.
Spending caps of $100 billion for the Armed Services Committee, $90 billion for Homeland Security, and $110 billion for the Judiciary Committee.
A total of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, with major reductions proposed for the Energy and Commerce Committee ($880 billion) and the Agriculture Committee ($230 billion), signaling potential cuts to food stamps (SNAP) and Medicaid.
A key provision states that if lawmakers fail to achieve $2 trillion in spending cuts, tax provisions will be adjusted to offset the shortfall—raising concerns among conservatives who want to ensure full tax cut extensions.
Internal GOP Divide
While House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed confidence in advancing the resolution, securing enough votes remains uncertain. With a slim majority, House Republicans need near-unanimity to pass the budget, and some key members remain undecided.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a Budget Committee member, has yet to commit to supporting the resolution. Meanwhile, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chair of the Ways and Means Committee, criticized the $4.5 trillion deficit cap, arguing it shortchanges Trump’s tax policies.
“Let me just say that a 10-year extension of President Trump’s expiring provisions is over $4.7 trillion according to CBO,” Smith told reporters. “Anything less would be saying that President Trump is wrong on tax policy.”
The Senate Standoff
House Republicans favor passing one large bill encompassing all of Trump’s priorities, while Senate Republicans are pushing a two-bill strategy—one focusing on border security and defense, and another on tax cuts. Senate GOP leaders have already advanced a budget resolution for the first bill, but Johnson has called their approach a “non-starter.”
As negotiations heat up, the biggest challenge may come from moderates concerned about deep spending cuts, particularly to Medicaid.
“I’m hearing a lot of concerns on Medicaid from members,” one House Republican told The Hill. “The president has been saying that he doesn’t want the Medicaid cuts, and members are concerned about voting for something that is tough and doesn’t have a path.”
What’s Next?
The House Budget Committee is expected to advance the resolution Thursday, setting up a full chamber vote in the coming weeks. If House Republicans can rally enough support, the bill could pass by the end of the month, aligning with Speaker Johnson’s timeline.
