Trump Seeks Swift Implementation of His Agenda—Will Congress Comply?

Congressional Republicans plan to leverage the budget reconciliation process to finance President-elect Donald J. Trump’s agenda for his second term within the first 100 days following his inauguration.

With the GOP controlling both the House and Senate, they may be able to reach this objective, but several hurdles remain. Initially, they need to unify on both the legislative procedure for considering the bills and the specifics of the agenda, moving toward a swift passage.

The entirety of Trump’s agenda hinges on prompt action, particularly with midterm elections on the horizon and Trump’s own term limit approaching. Experts suggest that if Congress fails to allocate the necessary funds for Trump’s initiatives in the coming months, he may encounter difficulties in fulfilling his second-term objectives.

Process

A budget reconciliation bill permits Congress to swiftly enact legislation related to taxes, spending, and the debt ceiling with just a simple majority. While most Senate proceedings require a three-fifths majority or 60 votes, reconciliation bills are an exception.

“Typically, reconciliation bills serve as the preferred means to pass partisan tax and spending legislation,” stated Henry Olsen, a senior fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, in an interview with The Epoch Times on Jan. 6.

Recent reconciliation bills include the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) aims to enact the complete agenda through a single reconciliation bill. Analysts argue that this strategy minimizes the chances for congressional Republicans to express dissent over individual components of the plan.

“By breaking the measures into smaller parts, you create more avenues for people to raise objections and potentially derail specific sections,” explained Matthew Wilson, an associate professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, to The Epoch Times.

With a single bill, Republicans would be required to vote in favor or against the entirety of Trump’s agenda, thus reducing the likelihood of dissent, Wilson indicated.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) supports a dual-bill approach, likely to expedite the passage of certain components of Trump’s agenda.

In a speech on Dec. 17, Thune called for “a once-in-a-generation investment in border security and immigration enforcement,” to be succeeded by another reconciliation bill aimed at extending the Trump tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Generally, Republicans advocate for distinguishing between tax and spending measures, as noted by Aaron Dusso, an associate professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis.

“It becomes easier to justify tax cuts when you’re not simultaneously voting on spending reductions,” Dusso remarked in an interview with The Epoch Times.

While Trump has consistently expressed a preference for the single-bill method, he has also indicated a willingness to consider two separate packages.

“I favor one grand, comprehensive bill, and that has always been my stance. However, if two bills result in greater success—it may facilitate quicker action since you can address immigration first,” Trump stated at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Jan. 7.

Trump is determined to finalize the plan promptly. He has scheduled a meeting with Senate Republicans in Washington on Jan. 8, and he mentioned upcoming discussions with House Republicans at Mar-a-Lago during his Jan. 7 press conference, which will occur later in the week.

Content

Trump campaigned on commitments to secure the southern border, enhance domestic manufacturing and energy production, and implement swift tax cuts. Fulfilling these promises will necessitate funding, which will form the basis of the reconciliation bill or bills.

No detailed proposals have been disclosed, nor has any total spending amount been stated.

While it appears that congressional Republicans are ready to back Trump’s initiatives, some members may express hesitance regarding one crucial aspect of the package: a proposed increase in the national debt ceiling.

During the last instance when the GOP negotiated a deal to raise the borrowing limit, it prompted a backlash from fiscal conservatives. Four months after the agreement, their speaker was ousted by his own party.

To mitigate concerns, Trump and Johnson have emphasized that increasing the debt ceiling is largely a procedural formality and does not imply that they plan to boost federal expenditures.

“I simply want to avoid a default. That’s my only concern,” Trump declared at the Jan. 7 press conference. “It’s primarily about extending it,” he clarified, referring to the deadline on the existing debt agreement.

Johnson noted that increasing the debt ceiling would be necessary to maintain trust in the American economy, but Republicans would ensure that the national debt does not reach the new limit.

“While this is more or less a routine step that must be taken, we are simultaneously committed to curbing expenditures, not increasing them,” Johnson stated at a press conference in the Capitol on Jan. 7.

Timing

The timeline for House Republicans is tight, with elections coming up in less than two years. Historically, the party holding the presidency has suffered losses in the House during all but two midterm elections over the last century. If they fail to make progress on the Trump agenda in the forthcoming months, that could jeopardize it for the foreseeable future.

“It is crucial to see progress by sometime within the first nine months of this year, before the new fiscal year begins,” Olsen remarked. Failing that, “President Trump’s agenda, particularly the legislative aspects, will be significantly hindered,” he added.

Lawmakers seem determined to expedite this spending, something they do not typically accomplish, as noted by Wilson.

“Johnson recognizes the urgency of the situation and will endeavor to push these measures through, capitalizing on the momentum that accompanies a new presidency,” Wilson commented.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has stated that the House intends to swiftly pass both a budget and a reconciliation bill.

“In February, we will advance our budget to the floor. By March, the committees will be finalizing the policies,” Scalise informed reporters on Jan. 7. “Then we aim to move it through the House by April, by Easter.”

Easter falls on April 20, 2025, marking Trump’s 91st day in office.

Should that not materialize, Johnson noted in a Jan. 5 interview, the latest it could be completed would be Memorial Day, May 26.