Early Friday, the United States Senate passed a budget resolution tailored in large part to President Donald Trump's initial agenda. The vote was almost entirely along party lines, with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) being the lone GOP holdout.
The Senate on Friday adopted a budget resolution intended to serve as a blueprint to deliver the first part of President Trump’s agenda.
Senators voted 52-48 along party lines on the resolution after a marathon overnight voting session. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against the measure.
The so-called vote-a-rama lasted about 10 hours, as Democrats sought to dial up the heat on Republicans with dozens of amendments needling the party on taxes and Medicaid.
Republicans overwhelmingly voted to turn away or reject the proposals. But Democrats were able to peel off one or two GOP defections as some Republicans bucked their party on a few proposals, including measures aimed at preventing healthcare cuts and reinstating federal workers affected by mass layoffs.
The Democrat proposals, let's be honest, were delaying tactics; they had essentially zero chance of inclusion in the GOP-controlled Senate.
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The budget resolution clears the path for $340 billion in spending. $175 billion is marked for border and immigration enforcement, while $150 billion would go to Pete Hegseth's Department of Defense.
The House of Representatives is working on its own plan. Eventually, the two schemes will have to be reconciled before they can go to the president.
The chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), lauded the resolution:
“This budget resolution is a complete game changer when it comes to securing our border and making our military more lethal. It will allow President Trump to fulfill the promises he made to the American people — a very big deal,” Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement after the vote.
“I hope the House can pass one big bill that meets President Trump’s priorities. But this approach provides money that we needed yesterday to continue the momentum on securing our border, enforcing our immigration laws, and rebuilding our military. Time is of the essence.”
President Trump has been pushing for a budget resolution including his priorities of border enforcement, defense, the extension of the first Trump administration's tax rate cuts, and a debt ceiling increase. The president sent a message of support on Thursday:
“We are setting records, the likes of which have never been seen before, on stopping criminal illegals aliens from entering our Country,” he said, adding, “Your work on funding this effort is greatly appreciated!”
President Trump has an ambitious agenda, but many, indeed most, of the long-term fixes he is pushing for will require action by Congress. He can count on a GOP majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate for two years. House and Senate Republicans are alike in expressing confidence in the 2026 mid-terms, but it's important to remember that there are few certainties in politics, but one of them is that, sooner or later, the shoe is always on the other foot.
The House and Senate need to bring all this in for a landing, and soon. There's a lot more to be done.