By House Republicans are meeting at Trump National Doral, a resort owned by the president near Miami, for their annual policy retreat, and this year, they have one thing in mind: How to enact President Trump’s bold agenda.
Politico writes that it’s a “make-or-break” moment for the Republicans and it could all come down to money.
Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP members have major decisions to make over the coming days that will determine whether Trump and Republicans can deliver on their sweeping legislative agenda before the 2026 midterms. They’re already running behind.
The biggest task for the gathering at Trump National Doral: Finalize a budget blueprint plan for the massive, party-line bill they’re planning, touching energy, border security and tax policy.
But to do that, Republicans need to decide what will go in that package — with the price tag of Trump’s priorities reaching $10 trillion over 10 years — versus what might be included in a separate, bipartisan government funding bill that will be negotiated with Democrats over the next seven weeks. The fate of a necessary debt ceiling increase is top of mind.
Johnson has been carefully collecting member feedback for weeks while privately debating a host of options with GOP leaders. But House Republicans are growing impatient and want to know the game plan.
“We need to have a sense of urgency with the debt ceiling coming,” said Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.), a member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus. “I hope there’s options at this point.”
The House Budget Committee is expected to move forward with the fiscal plan in the coming week, initiating the reconciliation process. This procedural mechanism allows certain legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority, avoiding the threat of a filibuster. To use this tool effectively, the House and Senate must first agree on a shared framework, adding pressure to finalize the blueprint.
The New York Times reported that “Republicans are passing around an extensive menu of ideas to cover the cost of a massive tax cut and immigration crackdown bill. They could create a 10 percent tariff on all imports, bringing in an estimated $1.9 trillion. They could establish new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, bringing in $100 billion in savings.
They have even calculated that they could generate $20 billion by raising taxes on people who can use a free gym at the office, according to a 50-page list of options that the House Budget Committee has circulated in recent days.
The bigger challenge for Republican leaders is trying to figure out what can pass Congress and be signed by President Trump. With slim majorities in both chambers, they are searching for the right mix of policy changes that could offset some of the costs of Mr. Trump’s most expensive proposals, placating spending hard-liners who are concerned about ballooning the government’s debt, while also maintaining the support of more centrist members who are loath to slash popular programs.
Many of the G.O.P.’s anti-spending members have said they cannot support a bill that adds significantly to the nation’s debt. But most of the major policies Mr. Trump wants included in the legislation are extremely expensive. Extending the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017 alone is expected to cost $5 trillion.”
Republicans are approaching this effort with lessons from past failures in mind, such as the unsuccessful attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in 2017. Although there is broader agreement among lawmakers on key priorities this time, debates over how to fund the ambitious proposals remain a significant obstacle. The retreat includes breakout discussions led by various committees and a plenary session guided by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, all aimed at resolving these divisions.
However, the path forward is fraught with potential challenges. Delays in reaching consensus or a lack of unity could jeopardize the entire package, undermining both the party’s legislative ambitions and their prospects in the 2026 midterms. As Republicans work to finalize their plan, the retreat serves as both a critical opportunity to forge agreement and a reminder of the risks of not pulling together in the same direction.
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