Senate approves $340 billion budget blueprint to enhance immigration, energy, and military funding
Kumar Shivam | Feb 22, 2025, 00:25 IST
( Image credit : PTI )
The Republican-led Senate passed a $340 billion budget blueprint, focusing on immigration, military, and energy funding. The vote was 52-48, with Sen. Rand Paul opposing. The House will debate its own version, backed by Trump. Key issues include tax cuts and Medicaid. Vice President J.D. Vance expects reconciliation by summer amid ongoing GOP divisions.
The Republican-led Senate approved a $340 billion budget blueprint early Friday, aiming to bolster funding for immigration enforcement, energy production, and the military under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The vote, largely along party lines, took place just before 5 a.m. ET following an all-night session known as a "vote-a-rama," during which senators voted on 33 amendments over a span of 10 hours. The final tally was 52-48, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) being the sole Republican to oppose the resolution, joining all 47 Democrats.
Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) emphasized the bill’s significance, stating, “Without this bill passing, there is no hope of getting money for the border.”
The Senate’s approval now shifts the focus to the GOP-controlled House, which is set to consider its own version of the budget resolution next week. Alongside border security, defense, and energy funding, the House proposal includes a $4.5 trillion tax cut and a $4 trillion debt limit increase. President Trump has endorsed the House version, describing it as "one big, beautiful bill," while Senate Republicans have suggested their version could serve as a backup plan if the House measure fails.
“To my House colleagues: We will all get there together. If you can pass the one big, beautiful bill that makes the tax cuts permanent, then we’ll all cheer over here,” Graham said on the Senate floor before voting commenced. “I want that to happen, but I cannot sit on the sidelines and not have a plan B.”
Sen. Paul, a fiscal conservative, criticized the budget for increasing spending. “If we were fiscally conservative, why wouldn’t we take the savings from Elon Musk and DOGE and move it over here to help with the border?” he asked before casting his vote. “Why would we be doing a brand-new bill to increase spending by $340 billion?”
Senate rules allow for unlimited amendments, and Democrats used this opportunity to force difficult votes on provisions aimed at protecting social programs. One amendment, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), sought to prevent tax cuts for the wealthy if any funding was cut from Medicaid, a program for low-income Americans. It was rejected 49-51, with only two Republicans—Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)—siding with Democrats.
Only two amendments were adopted. One, proposed by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), established a "deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to protecting Medicare and Medicaid." However, Democrats criticized it as political cover, arguing it could still result in millions losing coverage. “The language in this amendment is code for kicking Americans with Medicaid coverage off their health insurance,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) warned.
The budget resolution instructs Senate committees to draft legislation aligning with its objectives, allowing for fast-track consideration by a simple majority vote. The plan allocates $175 billion for immigration and border security, per the Trump administration’s request, and increases military spending by $150 billion. It also directs committees to identify spending cuts to offset the costs.
The reconciliation process enables Republicans to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, but it restricts provisions to budgetary matters. Democrats can challenge non-budgetary elements under the "Byrd rule," potentially removing them from the final package.
A central point of contention between House and Senate Republicans is whether Trump’s priorities should be addressed in one comprehensive bill or split into two. Trump has endorsed the House’s single-bill approach, urging the Senate to slow its two-step reconciliation plan. The House version proposes a broad package covering border security, energy expansion, and the extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, while the Senate's narrower plan defers tax cuts to a later bill.
Even if both chambers agree on a resolution, the legislative process remains complex. House conservatives demand significant spending cuts, while moderates are wary of potential reductions to 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.), a member of the budget and appropriations committees. “A reconciliation bill won’t pass the House or Senate without substantial spending cuts.”
Vice President J.D. Vance, who met with senators this week, expressed optimism about passing a reconciliation package by May or June but acknowledged the challenge. “The president has learned a lot about how D.C. works,” Vance said at the Conservative Political Action Conference. “I think if we move at a record pace, we can get this done in May or June. We’re on track for that.”
The vote, largely along party lines, took place just before 5 a.m. ET following an all-night session known as a "vote-a-rama," during which senators voted on 33 amendments over a span of 10 hours. The final tally was 52-48, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) being the sole Republican to oppose the resolution, joining all 47 Democrats.
Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) emphasized the bill’s significance, stating, “Without this bill passing, there is no hope of getting money for the border.”
The Senate’s approval now shifts the focus to the GOP-controlled House, which is set to consider its own version of the budget resolution next week. Alongside border security, defense, and energy funding, the House proposal includes a $4.5 trillion tax cut and a $4 trillion debt limit increase. President Trump has endorsed the House version, describing it as "one big, beautiful bill," while Senate Republicans have suggested their version could serve as a backup plan if the House measure fails.
“To my House colleagues: We will all get there together. If you can pass the one big, beautiful bill that makes the tax cuts permanent, then we’ll all cheer over here,” Graham said on the Senate floor before voting commenced. “I want that to happen, but I cannot sit on the sidelines and not have a plan B.”
Sen. Paul, a fiscal conservative, criticized the budget for increasing spending. “If we were fiscally conservative, why wouldn’t we take the savings from Elon Musk and DOGE and move it over here to help with the border?” he asked before casting his vote. “Why would we be doing a brand-new bill to increase spending by $340 billion?”
Senate rules allow for unlimited amendments, and Democrats used this opportunity to force difficult votes on provisions aimed at protecting social programs. One amendment, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), sought to prevent tax cuts for the wealthy if any funding was cut from Medicaid, a program for low-income Americans. It was rejected 49-51, with only two Republicans—Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)—siding with Democrats.
Only two amendments were adopted. One, proposed by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), established a "deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to protecting Medicare and Medicaid." However, Democrats criticized it as political cover, arguing it could still result in millions losing coverage. “The language in this amendment is code for kicking Americans with Medicaid coverage off their health insurance,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) warned.
The budget resolution instructs Senate committees to draft legislation aligning with its objectives, allowing for fast-track consideration by a simple majority vote. The plan allocates $175 billion for immigration and border security, per the Trump administration’s request, and increases military spending by $150 billion. It also directs committees to identify spending cuts to offset the costs.
The reconciliation process enables Republicans to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, but it restricts provisions to budgetary matters. Democrats can challenge non-budgetary elements under the "Byrd rule," potentially removing them from the final package.
A central point of contention between House and Senate Republicans is whether Trump’s priorities should be addressed in one comprehensive bill or split into two. Trump has endorsed the House’s single-bill approach, urging the Senate to slow its two-step reconciliation plan. The House version proposes a broad package covering border security, energy expansion, and the extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, while the Senate's narrower plan defers tax cuts to a later bill.
Even if both chambers agree on a resolution, the legislative process remains complex. House conservatives demand significant spending cuts, while moderates are wary of potential reductions to 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.), a member of the budget and appropriations committees. “A reconciliation bill won’t pass the House or Senate without substantial spending cuts.”
Vice President J.D. Vance, who met with senators this week, expressed optimism about passing a reconciliation package by May or June but acknowledged the challenge. “The president has learned a lot about how D.C. works,” Vance said at the Conservative Political Action Conference. “I think if we move at a record pace, we can get this done in May or June. We’re on track for that.”