Republicans in Congress are working to advance Trump’s agenda. But they only have a short amount of time to do it before the midterms.
And the Senate GOP are forming a plan that has Democrats shaking in fear.
Senate Republicans Gear Up for Another Budget Reconciliation Push
Fresh off the narrow passage of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” a $3.3 trillion legislative package that solidified key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, introduced work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance, and boosted funding for defense and border security, Senate Republicans are already planning their next move.
The bill, which relied on Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote to pass earlier this month, has GOP lawmakers ready to pursue another round of budget reconciliation.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a critical vote who initially wavered but ultimately backed the bill, expressed optimism about the prospect of a second effort. “I think I pretty well have a commitment,” he said, citing assurances from the White House, Trump, and Senate GOP leadership.
“They’re going to do that, and we’re going to set a process, line by line, program by program.” Johnson emphasized his desire to shape the next package, noting, “Another reason why I definitely had to vote ‘yes’ is I would have just dealt myself out of being involved in that process, and I want to be highly involved in that for the next process.”
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, a fiscal conservative who also hesitated before supporting the bill, echoed the call for another attempt. “I think we still have to definitely do one more this year, so we’ll see if that’s what happens,” he told Fox News Digital.
The reconciliation process, which allows the Senate to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold with a simple majority, is a powerful tool despite its strict rules. Johnson suggested the next effort could take shape in the new fiscal year starting in October.
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, a key ally, shares this ambition. Shortly after the bill’s passage, he appeared on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle and declared, “We’re going to do this again.”
He outlined a bold timeline, stating, “We’re gonna have a second reconciliation package in the fall and a third in the spring of next year.” Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, another fiscal hawk who critiqued the Senate’s changes but voted yes, called another package “absolutely” doable.
Norman is pushing for deeper spending cuts and finding ends for “government giveaways,” but he warned that the 2026 midterms create a tight window. “If there’s ever a chance to do it, we need to do it now, because the midterms are coming up in the middle of next year. So really we need to push for the next eight months,” he said.
Originally, Senate Republicans floated a two-bill approach, but Speaker Johnson deemed it unworkable due to competing priorities within the House GOP. Now, Senate leadership is treading carefully.
A senior GOP aide said Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota is open to another package but is focused on promoting the recent bill’s achievements.
“At this point it’s premature to even think of what could be in a second one,” the aide told Fox News Digital. The Senate also faces immediate challenges, including a $9.4 billion clawback package meeting resistance from some Republicans.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma voiced support for another reconciliation effort, stating, “we want to do one more reconciliation package.” But he acknowledged the hurdle of avoiding a government shutdown.
As spending panels tackle the dozen bills needed to keep the government running, Mullin, who chairs the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, predicted a temporary funding extension. “It looks like we’re screaming straight toward a [continuing resolution], and we have to have, we’re going to have to figure out how to avoid a Schumer shutdown, because they’re not going to be helpful in passing it,” he explained.
Rallying Senate Republicans for another reconciliation push may be tough. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, whose vote was pivotal after intense negotiations and Alaska-specific provisions, seemed unenthusiastic about a repeat.
“No, no,” she said to Fox News Digital. “I want to legislate.” Despite such skepticism, the reconciliation process’s ability to sidestep the filibuster makes it a tempting option for advancing Trump’s priorities before the 2026 elections reshape the political landscape.
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