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Senate Republicans pressed forward Thursday with a $340 billion budget resolution aimed at boosting immigration enforcement, military expansion, and energy production—marking a significant step in the GOP’s broader budget battle. The measure, which passed a key procedural hurdle, is expected to be approved along party lines after an all-night “vote-a-rama.”
The budget blueprint differs sharply from the House Republican plan, which has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and includes a sweeping $4.5 trillion tax cut alongside a $4 trillion debt limit increase. Senate Republicans view their version as a fallback in case the House plan falters.
“Without this bill passing, there is no hope of getting money for the border,” Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Thursday.
GOP Divisions Over Budget Strategy
The Senate’s proposal, which includes $175 billion for immigration and border enforcement and $150 billion for military expansion, lacks key elements of the House bill, such as the renewal of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Some Senate Republicans have argued for a two-step reconciliation process to tackle spending priorities separately, but Trump has urged the party to pass “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.”
“To my House colleagues: We will all get there together,” Graham said, acknowledging the House’s more aggressive approach. “If you can pass the one big, beautiful bill that makes the tax cuts permanent … nothing would please me more. But I cannot sit on the sidelines and not have a plan B.”
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote against advancing the budget, criticizing the bill’s spending increases.
“If we were fiscally conservative, why wouldn’t we take the savings from Elon Musk and DOGE and move it over here and help with the border?” Paul quipped on the Senate floor.
Democrats Prepare Tough Votes for GOP
The budget resolution allows Republicans to use the reconciliation process to bypass the Senate’s usual 60-vote requirement, enabling them to pass spending measures with a simple majority. However, this process also allows Democrats to introduce an unlimited number of amendments in an attempt to force politically difficult votes for the GOP.
“We will be offering amendments to protect Medicaid and block tax breaks for the wealthy,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told NBC News.
Democrats are also expected to challenge provisions that may violate Senate budget rules, potentially leading to the removal of certain policies through the “Byrd rule.”
The Road Ahead for GOP Budget Negotiations
If the Senate and House can align on a single budget resolution, it would only be the first step in a long and complex legislative process. Conservatives in the House are pushing for significant spending cuts, while moderates are wary of potential reductions to programs like Medicaid.
“The budget resolution is just patty cake. The real work begins when you start putting together the bill and the pay-fors,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., emphasizing the challenges ahead.
Vice President JD Vance, who has been involved in the budget discussions, expressed optimism about advancing a reconciliation package by summer.
“I think we’re on track to get this thing done in May or June,” Vance said during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference. “It’s early, right? This stuff takes time to put together. But I think we’ve got to do a lot with that one big beautiful bill.”
As Republicans navigate internal divisions and Democratic opposition, the fate of their budget priorities—including Trump’s desired tax cuts—remains uncertain. The coming months will determine whether the GOP can unite behind a single legislative strategy or face further infighting over the best path forward.
