House and Senate Pass Budget Resolution Blueprint

Earlier this month, the Senate passed a budget resolution in a 51-48 vote after an all-night voting marathon, inching closer to enacting President Trump’s priorities around tax breaks (see previous coverage). Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), who cited concerns of increasing the deficit, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME), who rejected the proposed cuts to Medicaid, were the only Republicans to vote against the resolution. On April 10, the Senate’s blueprint passed through the House in a 216 to 214 vote after Sen. Thune agreed to adhere to the House’s $1.5 trillion in budget cuts to pacify fiscal hawks in the House. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN) were the only Republicans to vote against the resolution.

Passing the blueprint in both chambers is the first step in a long process known as reconciliation. When Congress returns from a two-week recess on April 28, relevant committees will be expected to begin drafting legislation in accordance with the budget targets included in the budget resolution. In particular, lawmakers will be tasked with finding at least $4 billion worth of budget cuts while simultaneously allowing for $5 trillion in tax cuts to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as well as an additional $1.5 trillion for new tax cuts over the next ten years. The bill is also supposed to include an additional $521 billion for a wide range of GOP policy priorities, including border security and national defense. For comparison, the original House budget resolution called for at least $1.5 trillion in budget cuts and $4.5 trillion for tax cuts (see previous COSSA coverage).

In addition, when they return, Congress will have to balance their work on budget reconciliation with the fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations process. Rumors suggest that the Presidential Budget Request (PBR) will be released in May with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) suggesting that a “skinny budget” may be released in late April. Neither chamber has set topline numbers for FY 2026. The delay in this process leaves little time for Congress to hold budgetary hearings with the heads of Federal Agencies and write their respective bills to pass the FY 2026 budget before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage on Congressional activities.