Incoming President Donald Trump threw his support on Sunday behind having one sweeping border, energy and tax bill.
“Members of Congress are getting to work on one powerful Bill that will bring our Country back, and make it greater than ever before. We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible,” he added.
Trump’s direct endorsement of the reconciliation strategy comes just a day after Speaker Mike Johnson told his members behind closed doors that the president-elect was backing a one-bill approach using reconciliation, instead of two bills. Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) was among those pushing for one package, while the two-bill strategy was backed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, some of Trump’s Capitol Hill allies and incoming White House staffer Stephen Miller.
Johnson, in an interview with “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo,” said he wants to adopt a budget resolution that will include instructions for the sweeping energy, border and tax package in February. He then wants to pass the bill itself in the House in early April, with the goal of getting it to Trump’s desk by the end of the month.
Even as Johnson laid out his ambitious timeline during the weekend, and passed along Trump’s preferences, he’s faced pushback. Some House Republicans worried that Johnson’s remarks Saturday were him characterizing what Trump wanted, rather than Trump weighing in directly. But one person familiar with the reconciliation talks told POLITICO that Trump is pushing the one package approach and it “was the message from his team all weekend.”
The one-bill strategy is still sparking some skepticism — hinting at the battle ahead as Republicans try to get the near unity needed to get a reconciliation bill to Trump’s desk. Johnson acknowledged Sunday that the bill could slip into May.
Trump, on Truth Social, revived one topic that causes heartburn among a swath of congressional Republicans — using tariffs to help pay for the tax package. Trump’s talk of tariffs has sparked unease particularly in the Senate, where farm state Republicans worry the agriculture industry will be the target of foreign retaliation. Key Senate Republicans have also said they don’t believe tariffs are a viable option as spending offsets.
Meanwhile, Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also raised concerns about delaying the border piece of the package by insisting on passing everything at once. Under the two-bill strategy backed by Graham, Republicans were hoping to start by passing a border and energy bill next month.
“I’m very worried. I’m very worried that if we don’t put border first and get it done, it’s going to be a nightmare for our national security,” Graham told “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo.”
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