Politics

House Freedom Caucus Supports Dual Reconciliation Plan, Prioritizes Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan tours a section of the U.S. - Mexico border wall along with senior Border Patrol officials during a visit to El Paso, Texas, August 26, 2020. CBP Photo by Jerry Glaser

The House Freedom Caucus (HFC) on Friday endorsed a dual reconciliation strategy, asserting the need to prioritize border security in an initial bill that they insist must be fully funded.

Detailed in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, the approach emphasizes the urgency of border security as a standalone issue, which the caucus insists must be fully funded and resolved prior to any further action. HFC is advocating for a two-step reconciliation process.

“It is our understanding that President Trump’s closest advisors and experts on the border believe they must have immediate resources to begin to undo the damage caused by the Biden Administration, secure the border, and start removals and repatriations on day one,” the group’s board of directors wrote. “Border security must move first — and then we should move forward to a second, larger reconciliation bill covering taxes, spending, energy, bureaucracy and more.”

Today, the House Freedom Caucus Board of Directors sent the following letter to Speaker Johnson regarding reconciliation: pic.twitter.com/a3iDbVU0ZJ

— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) December 13, 2024

This strategy has not been universally embraced within the Republican ranks as divisions are emerging over the reconciliation strategy, with some members, including House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, advocating for a consolidated approach in a single bill, according to Politico. Meanwhile, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune proposed a similar plan to the HFC, suggesting that splitting the policy priorities into two parts could strategically avoid a Democratic filibuster.

Thune won a three-way contest for leadership of the Senate’s 53-member Republican majority and secured the position for the initial two years of Trump’s second term. Thune outpaced Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn in a closely fought second-round vote, tallying 29 to 24, after Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott was eliminated in the first round with 13 votes.

(Featured Image Media Credit: CBP Photo by Jerry Glaser)