It’s been quite a ride for President-elect Donald Trump as he navigates the complexities of Capitol Hill. Just last month, he nearly threw a wrench into a spending bill, pushing for a government shutdown. Now, Trump is back at it, trying to figure out how to get his major policy ideas funded—and he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
A Bold Plan for a Big Win
Trump has always been ambitious, and that hasn’t changed. He’s pushing for Congress to pass a massive package that includes some of his top priorities, like extending tax cuts and beefing up Border Patrol. He’s also been vocal about increasing or even removing the debt ceiling, though the exact details of how that would work are still up in the air.
With Republicans controlling both Congress and the White House, Trump has the chance to use a special process called reconciliation to get his bills through. This would allow him to bypass the usual 60-vote hurdle and pass things with just a simple majority—a major win for him if it works.
The One Big Bill vs. Two Smaller Bills Debate
At first, Trump was all-in on the idea of a single, all-encompassing bill. “One big, beautiful bill,” he said, believing it could solve all his policy goals in one go. But as the days passed, Trump acknowledged that not everyone agrees with this approach, especially some Republicans.
So now, Trump is willing to be flexible. During an appearance on a radio show, he admitted he’d be open to splitting the bill into two parts if that’s what it takes to get the job done. “I would prefer one, but I’ll do whatever needs to be done to get it passed,” he said.
Divided Opinions Within the Party
Trump’s flexibility reflects the growing divide within his own party. Some Republicans, like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, are pushing for a two-package plan. This would break up Trump’s big priorities into more manageable parts, rather than bundling everything together. But Trump is open to working with these differences, as long as something gets passed quickly.
One of the biggest challenges will be rallying support from the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans who’ve made it clear they prefer the two-step approach. They’re particularly focused on securing funding for border security as a first priority, and they’re pushing for smaller, more focused bills.
Time is Ticking
With Trump eager to make good on his promises during his first 100 days in office, Speaker Mike Johnson is under pressure to get the legislation through. The goal is to pass a reconciliation package by early April, so Trump could sign it into law by the end of the month—though Johnson has also acknowledged that things might not move as quickly, with Memorial Day as a possible target.
Despite some differences within the party, Johnson and Trump are continuing to work closely together to find a way forward. It seems that no matter how it gets done—whether in one big move or several smaller steps—Trump is determined to push his agenda through, come what may.
What’s Next?
As the clock ticks, the question remains: will Congress be able to rally around a single sweeping bill, or will they have to break it down into multiple parts? Whatever happens, one thing is clear—Trump is ready to keep shaking things up and making his mark in Washington.
