Senate GOP Plans Aggressive 2025 Agenda With Early Reconciliation Bills

Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune outlines a fast-paced legislative strategy focused on border security, defense, energy, and tax policy.

John Thune, the incoming Senate Majority Leader, aims to pass a reconciliation package addressing border security, defense, and energy within the first 30 days of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Republicans are preparing a second reconciliation bill later in 2025 to address the expiration of Trump-era tax cuts, which are set to lapse at the end of the year.
The Senate GOP is considering pre-emptively passing a budget resolution before Trump’s inauguration to expedite the legislative process for their agenda.
Thune has proposed significant changes to Senate operations, including extended workweeks, Friday voting, and limiting the duration of open floor votes.
Challenges to the agenda include slim Republican majorities in both chambers, potential Democratic resistance, and strict reconciliation rules requiring budgetary relevance for included provisions.