GOP tension on Trump agenda bill grows as Senate diverges from House's path
As the House struggles to begin work on "one big, beautiful bill" to advance President Donald Trump's agenda, Senate Republicans are starting a two-bill path.
WASHINGTON — As the GOP-led House struggles to begin work on “one big, beautiful bill“ to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda, the Senate Republican budget chief says the upper chamber will move forward on a distinct two-bill path.
The conflict over strategy comes as Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and a group of House Republicans met Thursday at the White House for several hours with Trump, who has indicated a preference for a one-bill approach to pass his policy priorities on taxes, immigration and energy, but largely steered clear of the dispute between the two chambers.
Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the panel will move forward next week with a budget resolution to kick-start a two-bill process after conferring with Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and other colleagues at a lunch meeting.
“It’s time for the Senate to move,” Graham told reporters on Wednesday, adding that while he appreciates the House’s views, it’s “very important” to get Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan more funding immediately to carry out his immigration crackdown.
“That means more ICE agents, build the wall, finish technology, you know, technology to secure the border, and increase bed space so you don’t have to let people go,” Graham said. “That can only happen with new money.”
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