Johnson tells House GOP Trump wants one reconciliation package
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told House Republicans on Saturday that President-elect Trump wants to pass one reconciliation package, a strategy that runs counter to the two-bill effort several other GOP lawmakers had been pushing for.
Johnson made the announcement during a private House GOP meeting at Fort McNair, five sources in the room told The Hill, as the conference gathered to discuss plans for moving legislation through the budget reconciliation process. The Republican trifecta — taking full control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in the 2024 election — is looking to use it to bypass Democratic opposition and pass many of its priorities.
Johnson told lawmakers that the president-elect wants to pass “one big beautiful bill,” according to two of the sources.
Trump’s stance directly contrasts with the preference of many Republicans up on Capitol Hill, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who laid out a plan last month that includes two reconciliation packages. The first would focus on border security and defense, and the other centered on extending the Trump-era tax cuts, which have some provisions that are set to expire at the end of 2025.
Additionally, the conservative House Freedom Caucus endorsed the two-track plan in December, writing in a letter to Johnson that the House should move on one package focused on the border, and a second encompassing taxes and other matters.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, reiterated that position as recently as Saturday morning.
“There are a group of us who support breaking it up into two pieces,” Harris told Fox News in an interview. “The first piece, a very small border piece where we give the president the money that he needs to secure our southern border and start deporting illegal, criminal aliens.”
“The president needs some funds now and that’s the quickest way to do it, and that’s the way, again, a group of us think we should do that,” he added later. “Saving the large, big, beautiful bill till the summer because it will take time to iron out.”
Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, has also endorsed the two-package approach.
Trump’s position, however, does align with that of House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who has been adamant that Congress should plan for one reconciliation package, not two, citing previous legislative undertakings and the razor-thin margin Republicans have in this Congress.
“There have not been two reconciliations that have been signed into law in the same year,” Smith said last month. “And why would we think in a majority of 219 to 215 that we would over perform?”
Emily Brooks contributed.
-
Johnson tells House Republicans Trump wants 1 reconciliation package: Sources
Speaker Mike Johnson told House Republicans on Saturday that President-elect Donald Trump wants Congress to pass one sweeping bill full of his priorities.ABC News - 1d -
House adopts rules package expanding Johnson’s protections
Politico - 2d -
Trump calls on GOP to pass his agenda in 'one powerful bill'
President-elect Trump on Sunday made public his support for Republican lawmakers to pass key components of his agenda into law with a single reconciliation bill, previewing what is expected to be a ...The Hill - 17h -
Rep. Mike Johnson tells House Republicans Trump wants them to pass a single reconciliation bill
At a closed-door House Republican retreat Saturday morning, newly re-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said President-elect Donald Trump was in favor of passing a single reconciliation ...NBC News - 1d -
Trump flexes power over House GOP in whirlwind Speaker race
President-elect Trump reasserted his power over the House GOP conference during Friday’s whirlwind Speaker vote, proving that, despite some recent doubts, he still has significant sway over ...The Hill - 1d -
Johnson tells House Republicans that Trump wants one ‘big beautiful’ reconciliation package
Trump’s decision is a win for House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith.Politico - 2d -
What one picture tells us about Trump's power in Congress
Friday's vote underscores the challenges for Trump in keeping House Republicans united to legislate his agenda.BBC News - 2d -
Mike Johnson fights for GOP votes to win House Speaker election
Even as President-elect Trump has said Speaker Mike Johnson has his “complete and total endorsement,” for re-election, Johnson is scrambling to lock down his own party's support, as he'll need ...NBC News - 4d -
Trump endorses Mike Johnson to remain as House Speaker
President-elect Trump rang in the new year at his Mar-a-Lago home, less than three weeks before Inauguration Day, telling reporters that he would attend President Carter’s funeral and reiterated ...NBC News - 5d
More from The Hill
-
O'Malley touts endorsements of current, former Congressional Black Caucus members in DNC chair bid
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on Monday touted the endorsements of current and former Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members in his Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair bid. “I am ...The Hill - 13m -
LGBTQ veterans reach historic settlement with Pentagon over military discharges
A group of LGBTQ veterans who sued the Department of Defense last year for denying them honorable discharges because of their sexuality said Monday they had settled with the Pentagon. The ...The Hill - 14m -
'Conclave' screenwriter stands by movie after Megyn Kelly criticism: 'I don't think the film is anti-Catholic'
The screenwriter of "Conclave" is defending the Golden Globe-winning film from criticism by Megyn Kelly, saying it's not "anti-Catholic." “I don’t think the film is anti-Catholic. I was brought up ...The Hill - 16m -
British prime minister condemns 'lies and misinformation' after Musk attacks
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “lies and misinformation” undermining the United Kingdom’s democracy and his record after Elon Musk’s continued attacks. Starmer was asked about a ...The Hill - 28m -
Solar panels are powering through US West wildfire smoke: Study
The wildfire smoke that often wafts across the U.S. West may only be causing minimal disturbance to the output of photovoltaic solar panels, a new study has found. Smoke-linked losses of ...The Hill - 45m
More in Politics
-
1/5: The Takeout: Arthur C. Brooks
Author Arthur C. Brooks joins The Takeout podcast to discuss happiness and his behavioral science research on finding happiness, purpose in life and human emotions. Brooks and Major Garrett also ...CBS News - 10m -
O'Malley touts endorsements of current, former Congressional Black Caucus members in DNC chair bid
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on Monday touted the endorsements of current and former Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members in his Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair bid. “I am ...The Hill - 13m -
LGBTQ veterans reach historic settlement with Pentagon over military discharges
A group of LGBTQ veterans who sued the Department of Defense last year for denying them honorable discharges because of their sexuality said Monday they had settled with the Pentagon. The ...The Hill - 14m -
'Conclave' screenwriter stands by movie after Megyn Kelly criticism: 'I don't think the film is anti-Catholic'
The screenwriter of "Conclave" is defending the Golden Globe-winning film from criticism by Megyn Kelly, saying it's not "anti-Catholic." “I don’t think the film is anti-Catholic. I was brought up ...The Hill - 16m -
4 years after Capitol attack, Trump pardons cloud future of Jan. 6 cases
With Trump's pledge to issue pardons and shut down the investigation, many of those who breached the Capitol four years ago could see their convictions erased.CBS News - 21m