On Thursday, President Donald Trump met privately with congressional Republicans at the White House amidst ongoing discussions about the details of his proposed "big, beautiful bill." This legislation aims to significantly cut taxes, reduce regulations, and decrease government spending, but Republican leaders in the House and Senate are facing internal divisions over the size and specifics of the proposal.

As Republican leaders look to Trump for direction, the president has remained noncommittal regarding the finer details of the plan, emphasizing the necessity for results instead. This lack of clarity has led to frustration within the party as they struggle to make headway on their principal agenda during their control in Washington. Concurrently, they are experiencing an influx of public backlash against Trump's cost-cutting initiatives, which are being heavily promoted by billionaire Elon Musk, targeting federal programs, services, and operations.

Speaker Mike Johnson, representing a razor-thin majority, insists that the Republicans will maintain unity and progress towards the goal of having the legislation passed by April. However, as timelines slip—particularly with budget hearings originally planned for this week—the Senate appears to be seeking greater control over the legislative process.

Led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota, Republicans in the Senate have proposed a two-phase approach. The initial phase would involve a smaller bill allocating funds for Trump's initiatives regarding the U.S.-Mexico border wall and deportation efforts. Subsequently, they plan to introduce a more comprehensive package focused on tax breaks by a year-end deadline.

Senator Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, announced that he would initiate hearings next week to get the process moving. Graham's proposed bill, which would total approximately $300 billion, includes funding for the border wall and an increase in defense spending, intended to be financed by rolling back initiatives from the Biden administration focused on green energy. He emphasized the need for this bill to provide essential resources for the Trump administration to effectively manage immigration enforcement and enhance border security.

Despite Graham's ambitious vision, the proposed funding falls short of the more than $3 trillion in tax cuts and over $2 trillion in spending reductions that strict conservatives are demanding. This divide is evident among House Republicans, who are struggling to align on their own proposal for roughly $1 trillion in savings over the next decade. Meanwhile, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are insisting on at least double that amount, further complicating negotiations.

Representative Chip Roy from Texas criticized the notion of achieving only $100 billion in annual savings in light of the much larger context of $7 trillion in yearly spending, deeming it "insane." The Freedom Caucus appears to favor Graham's proposed model, viewing it as a necessary first step towards fulfilling Trump's immigration goals while the broader tax and spending cuts package is being finalized.

Conversely, Texas Representative Jodey Arrington, who chairs the House Budget Committee, deemed the goal of $2.5 trillion in spending cuts as overly ambitious. Speaker Johnson requires near-total agreement from his party to push any measure through, as they face coordinated opposition from the Democrats. In the Senate, Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, but dissent remains a risk to cohesive party action.

Throughout these proceedings, Trump has consistently indicated that he prioritizes the outcomes of policy achievements over the procedural pathways taken within Congress, leaving much uncertainty regarding the ultimate form of the proposed legislation.