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The House Freedom Caucus has laid out a two-track plan to advance President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, prioritizing immediate action on border security before tackling other issues like taxes. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Dec. 13, the caucus urged swift passage of a border reconciliation package, emphasizing the importance of addressing immigration policies as Trump takes office.
“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 wrote.
The strategy calls for using budget reconciliation, a tool allowing budget-related legislation to bypass the Senate filibuster with a simple majority vote. With Republicans holding a 53–47 Senate majority, this approach is viewed as critical for enacting Trump’s priorities.
The proposed border reconciliation bill would include increased resources for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expanded border infrastructure, and funding for detention facilities. Trump’s campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, starting with those convicted of crimes or ordered removed, is central to the plan. Executive orders on border security and deportation procedures are also expected early in his presidency.
A second reconciliation package would address other policy areas, such as taxes, spending, energy, and government regulation. The Freedom Caucus maintains this two-step approach balances urgent border concerns with the need to deliver on broader legislative promises.
Some Republicans, however, are skeptical about the feasibility of advancing multiple reconciliation bills within a year. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, expressed concern that prioritizing border security could delay action on tax policy, which he sees as crucial to avoiding the expiration of the 2017 tax cuts.
“The last time Congress enacted multiple reconciliation bills in a single year was in 1997,” Smith noted, referencing the Balanced Budget Act and the Taxpayer Relief Act. He warned that pushing tax cuts to a later date risks voter dissatisfaction or even a lapse in the 2017 provisions.
Stephen Miller, who will serve as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, defended the plan, arguing on Dec. 9 that splitting legislative efforts is a strategic move that minimizes risk. “There is zero risk that this approach will derail the tax cut extension,” Miller said, emphasizing that the administration is well-positioned for rapid policy success.
Despite these divisions, congressional action on Trump’s border policies is expected to be a top priority as Republicans prepare to implement their ambitious legislative agenda.
