Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said he wants to plow forward next week on a Senate-led funding package that bundles together border security and defense spending as the House continues to struggle on a path to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda.
House and Senate Republicans have been at odds for several months over whether to attempt to pass many of Trump’s agenda items in one sweeping package or in two separate, smaller packages. Republicans hope to use a fast-track budget tool called reconciliation that would allow them to pass major budget-related measures without any Democratic support.
While plans in the House to begin work on a proposal stalled this week, Graham seems to have grown impatient, telling senators Wednesday that the Senate will take the reins and begin work to advance its own package next week. Graham briefed senators on the package during a closed-door lunch on Wednesday.
Graham told reporters following the closed-door meeting that his proposal is a $300 billion budget resolution over the course of four years with $150 billion going to border security and defense spending.
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s choice to be director of the FBI, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025.
Ben Curtis/AP
Asked why he was attempting to bypass the work his Republican colleagues in the House have been working on, Graham said it was because he didn’t believe they had a proposal that would be able to pass.
House Republicans have still not reached a clear consensus on the contours of their budget plan. Speaker Mike Johnson has been pushing for what he calls “one, big beautiful bill.”
But Graham said, “I’ve always believed that one big, beautiful bill is too complicated. What unites Republicans, for sure, is border security and more money for the military. It’s important we put points on the board … So I think it would be a real mistake for the Republican Congress not to give the Republican administration the money they need to execute the plan, and the only way to get that money is through reconciliation.”
Johnson reacted to the news from Graham, saying, “He has to understand the reality of the House. It’s a very different chamber with very different dynamics and the House needs to lead this if we are going to have success.”
Johnson said he plans to speak directly with Graham.
“We are very comfortable about where we are. We feel very optimistic. We are getting there. And we are going to find an equilibrium point and get this done. Stay tuned,” Johnson said.
House Republicans emerged from their closed-door conference meeting Wednesday with no clear consensus on advancing Trump’s agenda.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise acknowledged leaders are still meeting with members to come to an agreement on a budget agreement. Leaders aimed to have a blueprint completed by the end of their retreat at Trump’s club in Doral, Florida, two weeks ago, but lawmakers remain far apart. Trump will hold a private dinner for Republican senators at his Mar-A-Lago club on Friday.
“I think we’re stuck in the mud,” Florida Rep. Byron Donalds said. “It is a paralysis of analysis, and I think at this point we need to just make a clear decision.”
Donalds, who said he supports a two-bill strategy, stood up in the meeting and called on GOP leadership to make a play call on reconciliation and stop stalling, according to sources.
“I agree with a lot of people in the Senate,” Donalds added.
Speaker of House Mike Johnson speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington.
Win Mcnamee/Getty Images
Texas Rep. Chip Roy said, “We’re continuing to have the conversation we need to have and figuring out between Budget and Ways and Means [committees] what we need to do on tax policy and spending,” on-camera.
Roy said he still supports the two-bill strategy but acknowledged, “We are where we are.”
“The reason I wanted two bills is to bank a win, get it done and move quickly,” he added.
South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman said he thinks spending cuts should be more than $1 trillion.
“I think the good news is there’s a sense of urgency that was put on leadership today, and I think the president will be getting involved … sooner rather than later,” he said.
But, he said, “As long as we delay in getting something, they [Senate] have had a right to.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr said he supports one bill, the plan endorsed by Johnson, saying, “We know we need to get to a resolution soon, because we don’t want to get jammed by the Senate.”
“We have a thin majority, and we need to make one decision for all Republicans to answer the question ‘Are you with the president, or are you not?’ And every Republican needs to be with this president,” he said.