Congressional Republicans Eye Budget Reconciliation 2.0

Republican congressional leaders are working to meet a June 1 deadline set by President Trump to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. They plan to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the funding bill along party lines, effectively sidestepping Democratic opposition to the administration’s immigration enforcement activities and ending the months-long Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

Republican congressional leaders plan to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the funding bill along party lines.

In hopes of expediting passage, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wants to keep the forthcoming bill narrowly focused on immigration. But he is getting pushback from lawmakers who want to insert additional priorities, such as military funding and spending offsets to cover the bill’s costs.

Among the potential pay-fors are cuts to programs that help people meet basic needs, like food and health care assistance, under the guise of addressing “waste, fraud, and abuse.” This could include revisiting Medicaid, Medicare, Affordable Care Act (ACA), and SNAP policies that did not make it into HR 1, framing them as program integrity efforts.

Despite internal disagreements over the bill’s scope, Republicans could start advancing their reconciliation plans as soon as next week.

The Budget Reconciliation Process

Budget reconciliation is a special legislative process in the Senate that allows lawmakers to pass certain tax and spending bills with a simple majority (51 votes), instead of the usual 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. It does not apply in the House, where a majority would continue to be needed for passage.

Budget reconciliation allows the Senate to pass certain tax and spending bills with a simple majority (51 votes), instead of the usual 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.

There are complicated parliamentary standards that reconciliation bills must meet to get this privileged treatment in the Senate, but bills that comply can be used to make consequential changes to key health care services and supports. Most recently, of course, lawmakers used reconciliation in July 2025 to pass HR 1, slashing programs important to older adults and people with disabilities.

The process typically starts with the budget committees of the House and Senate writing budget resolutions that call for reconciliation. Those instructions tell other committees how much they are required to spend or save on programs under their jurisdiction. Each Budget Committee and chamber must vote on whether to accept the reconciliation instructions. Once approved, the committees that received instructions craft bills that meet their outlined targets. Those drafts are then packaged together, and any differences between the House and Senate versions must be worked out prior to final passage.

Reporting indicates Senate Republicans currently plan to kick off this process next week, putting them on a tight but doable path to meet their self-imposed June 1 deadline.

Weigh in Today

Now—before plans for the bill are set—is the time to make your voice heard. Mobilize today to protect Medicaid, Medicare, the ACA, SNAP, and other key programs from more cuts. 

Mobilize today to protect Medicaid, Medicare, the ACA, and SNAP.

Step 1: Contact your lawmakers. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask to speak to your members of Congress.

Step 2: Urge them to Protect Programs that Support Health and Well-being. Ask your lawmakers to reject any budget resolution that undermines health care, nutrition, and other services that help people live with health and dignity.

Step 3: Spread the word! Share this alert with your networks, urging them to advocate.