Republicans start splitting apart under Trump

The Republican Party is enveloped in a tense debate over the federal budget, indicating that President Donald Trump may not enjoy a unified party as he pursues his administration’s fiscal agenda.

The House Freedom Caucus—a group of around 30 Republican members of Congress regarded as the party’s most conservative faction—released its own budget resolution on Monday. In opposition to the single-bill proposal of House Speaker Johnson and GOP leaders, the two-bill approach features drastic spending cuts, higher border security funding and a marked increase in the debt ceiling.

Newsweek has contacted the GOP via online contact form outside of regular hours for comment.

Why It Matters

It was previously assumed that Republican control of both chambers would provide the necessary legislative backing for President Trump to follow through on his flagship campaign promises. However the current party debate—occurring just three weeks into the new administration and largely centered around how aggressively to carry out this agenda—shows that GOP divisions may prevent this from being the case.

What To Know

Republicans are split over the approach to advancing Trump’s policies through the ongoing budget reconciliation process, and whether to enact wide-reaching fiscal changes in a single bill which encompasses as much of Trump’s agenda as possible or whether to support two bills that will hand the president phased-out victories.

House Freedom Caucus leaders are looking to slash spending by at least $2 trillion in over the next decade to finance Trump’s planned tax cuts, while also pursuing a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling. Their “phase one” bill, entitled the “Emergency Border Control Resolution,” would also provide $200 billion in defense and border security spending, and be followed by a separate bill next year which would attempt to build upon Trump’s first-term tax cuts, set to expire at the end of 2025.

House Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), meanwhile, have attempted to compromise with $1 trillion in cuts. This marks an increase from the $500 billion proposed to Senate Republicans at their weekend retreat in Doral, Florida, the Washington Examiner reported. This would be written into one comprehensive reconciliation bill alongside measures related to border security, defense spending and energy.

Trump himself has voiced support for “one big, beautiful bill” that would incorporate his priorities on border security, energy and taxes.

What People Are Saying

Jason Smith (R-MO), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, in a statement on his website, said: “Passing one big, beautiful bill is the best way to ensure as much as possible of President Trump’s agenda is enacted. In one fell swoop, we can secure the border, unleash American energy, and deliver tax relief to workers, families, farmers, and small businesses.”

Clay Higgins (R-LA), member of the House Freedom Caucus, said: “The House Freedom Caucus has hammered out this strategy over the course of months. The details of our bill have been heavily examined and perfected for weeks by many experts. If my Republican colleagues expect to actually deliver President Trump’s Golden Era agenda for the American people, this budget resolution is the illuminated path.”

Andy Harris (R-MD), Freedom Caucus Chairman, said in a statement: “Given the current delay in the House on moving a comprehensive reconciliation bill, moving a smaller targeted bill now makes the most sense to deliver a win for the President and the American people. I am proud to introduce the Emergency Border Control Resolution today to set the reconciliation process in motion in the House.”

Lindsey Graham (R-SC), chair of the Senate Budget Committee, posted to X: “My dear friend Speaker Johnson is right. Like President Trump, I prefer ‘one big beautiful bill’ that provides funding to implement the Trump border security agenda and a boost in military spending, makes the Trump tax cuts permanent and includes substantial spending reductions.”

What Happens Next?

With thin majorities in both chambers, and support unlikely from any Democratic members of Congress, Speaker Johnson must attempt to strike a compromise with the party’s fiscal hard-liners.

Johnson previously said that he hoped to have a budget “markup” prepared by “as early as next week, maybe Tuesday,” the Washington Examiner reported. This appears unlikely, however, with Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) tellingFox News Digital on Monday that the party was “no closer to a budget deal” after the weekend’s negotiations.

Graham has also stated his intention to push his own one-track budget proposal through the Senate Budget Committee by Thursday.

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