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House Republicans on Tuesday advanced a framework for President Trump’s “big, beautiful” agenda package on taxes, border security, energy supply and more, teeing up a final floor vote on the measure as soon as Tuesday evening.

In a 217–211 vote, Republicans green-lit a rule needed to enable a full floor vote on the blueprint budget resolution, which is required to unlock the legislative process for Republicans to begin working on the marquee Trump agenda package.

The House budget resolution lays out committee assignments to cut at least $1.5 trillion and potentially up to $2 trillion. Then it allows for the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee to increase the deficit by up to $4.5 trillion while drafting Trump’s tax cuts.

It also authorizes up to $300 billion in beefed-up border security and defense spending and calls for increasing the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. The debt ceiling is projected to become a problem around June.


  The package covers everything from border security to taxes. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The package covers everything from border security to taxes. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Assigned cuts include an $880 billion reduction conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, $330 billion by the Education and Workforce Committee and $230 billion by the Agriculture Committee.

Despite GOP hardliners agreeing to the rule on the budget resolution, many have signaled opposition to the blueprint as written, creating headaches for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

“There may be a vote tonight,” Johnson told The Post Tuesday when asked about the timeline. “There may not be. Stay tuned.”

Rules lay the procedural groundwork for the consideration of legislation in the House of Representatives. Without a rule, leadership would have to use a process known as suspension of the rules, which necessitates a two-thirds majority.

Sometimes lawmakers will vote for a rule and then vote against a measure if amendments they want don’t get adopted. The blueprint budget resolution had cleared the House Rules Committee Monday evening. 

The budget resolution is paramount for GOP efforts to pass Trump’s agenda package because it unlocks the Senate reconciliation process — which will enable Republicans to bypass a Democratic filibuster.

Asked about the holdouts during a Monday panel event with the advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, the House speaker said: “I don’t think anybody wants to be in front of this train. I think they want to be on it.”

But GOP fiscal hawks, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), have howled over the potential for a dramatic increase in the deficit.

Johnson downplayed the potential for a deficit increase despite the budget resolution allowing for it, alluding to GOP hopes that tax cuts can spur economic growth and therefore, offset their impact on the deficit.

Trump’s “big, beautiful” agenda package is intended to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but independent estimates have projected it could increase the deficit by between about $3.5 trillion and $3.9 trillion over the next 10 years.


  Speaker Johnson may face opposition from within his own party. AFP via Getty Images Speaker Johnson may face opposition from within his own party. AFP via Getty Images

Republicans are also hoping to increase the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and fulfill Trump’s promise of no taxes on tips, overtime pay or Social Security.

“The resolution is stronger than when it started. It now includes a trigger that ties the size of the tax cuts to the relevant committee’s ability to meet or exceed the $2 trillion spending cut target,” said Adam Michel, the director of tax policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute.

“The House budget would benefit from deeper spending cuts, which are the only way to stabilize the national debt, protect Americans from higher taxes, and meet ambitious economic growth targets.”

Michel also noted that much of the spending cuts will not be focused on targeting benefits, but rather on the “integrity” of various government programs — including possibly $600 billion in improper payments made by Medicaid that could be eliminated.

Moderate Republicans like Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis had expressed concerns about cuts to programs like Medicaid — but later received assurances from Republican leaders that those services will be protected.

House GOPers have been keen on stuffing all of Trump’s top policy asks into one package to ensure they have leverage with their members.

Senate Republicans have called for splitting Trump’s package into two major pieces of legislation.

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