GOP Divisions Deepen as House, Senate Clash Over Trump’s Agenda

The conflict between House and Senate Republicans over advancing former President Trump’s policy priorities is intensifying. Both chambers are pursuing separate strategies to push through key legislative initiatives, but their divergent approaches are creating friction within the party.

Last week, the House Budget Committee approved a resolution that consolidates multiple Trump-backed initiatives into one comprehensive bill. This measure barely made it through after weeks of internal disputes.

The full House could vote on it as early as next week, but opposition from both moderates and conservatives may derail that plan.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans moved forward with their own budget resolution, passing it through the Budget Committee before the House’s proposal even cleared committee. Their version, which aligns with a two-track legislative strategy, is expected to reach the Senate floor this week, raising the stakes in the standoff.

For months, both chambers have been in a race to move a bill forward, but now that both have cleared their first hurdles, the legislative path remains uncertain. With immense pressure to advance Trump’s domestic agenda, tensions are running high.

House Republicans argue that their strategy is crucial for fulfilling Trump’s promises. “What we are doing is unlocking the ability to implement the president’s full agenda,” said House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) on Sunday Morning Futures. “House Republicans are committed to making that happen for the American people.”

But Senate Republicans remain skeptical of the House’s ability to deliver. The Senate’s move to advance its own resolution reflects deep frustration with the House’s pace.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), a leading advocate for the two-track approach, has pushed for immediate action, fearing delays will squander crucial momentum.

The House’s absence this week further complicates the situation. Thune has attempted to coordinate with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who faces significant internal resistance.

However, Senate Republicans believe there is no more time to waste, especially with an opportunity to pass legislation within Trump’s first 100 days before shifting focus to tax cuts.

“Our confidence in the House’s ability to get anything done is extremely low,” said a Senate GOP aide. “If we leave them to their own devices, there’s a high chance nothing gets passed.”

Senate Republicans have demonstrated unity in advancing Trump’s agenda, including securing key confirmations such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. However, they doubt House Republicans can match that level of cohesion.

A sense of urgency is also being driven by the Trump administration’s request for increased funding to support immigration enforcement. “Border czar” Tom Homan urged Senate Republicans last week to approve additional resources to carry out Trump’s ambitious deportation plans.

His message was clear: more funding is needed immediately.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reinforced this urgency. “As soon as possible,” he said, emphasizing the need for swift legislative action.

Republicans hope to use budget reconciliation to pass Trump’s policy goals without Democratic interference in the Senate. However, this strategy requires near-unanimous GOP support, which is challenging given the party’s slim majority in the House.

Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) included $175 billion for border security and immigration enforcement in his resolution, along with a $150 billion increase in defense spending.

The first reconciliation bill would also address energy policies, while a second bill would focus on extending the 2017 tax cuts. The specifics of the tax measure are still under discussion.

Senate Republicans view their proactive approach as a way to force House Republicans into action. They believe that if the Senate passes its resolution first, it will pressure the House to follow suit.

However, Speaker Johnson could choose to ignore the Senate’s proposal, stalling progress. Still, Senate Republicans argue that the House can only delay for so long before Trump himself intervenes.

“The only reason the House moved forward at all was because Senate Republicans applied pressure,” said a GOP aide. “If we wait for the House, nothing will happen. We have to push them to act.”

House Republicans insist they should lead the process, arguing that their legislative challenges are greater. Their budget resolution proposes at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, with a target of $2 trillion.

It also caps the deficit impact of Trump’s tax cuts at $4.5 trillion, allocates $300 billion for border and defense spending, and raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion.

Despite advancing their proposal through committee, House Republicans still face obstacles. Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) are undecided, and the GOP can afford to lose only one vote if Democrats unanimously oppose the measure, as expected.

Behind the scenes, concerns are even greater. Valadao suggested that “at least double digits” of Republicans remain hesitant, meaning Johnson has significant work ahead to unite his party.

The Speaker remains committed to his approach, hoping to finalize the House’s resolution before turning to reconciliation. But the Senate’s aggressive push threatens to overshadow the House’s efforts.

While the Senate is attempting to pressure the House into action, many acknowledge Johnson’s predicament. “He’s got the hardest job in Washington,” admitted a Senate GOP aide.

As the standoff continues, the GOP’s ability to govern effectively remains in question. Whether the party can reconcile its internal divisions and push Trump’s agenda forward remains uncertain.