House Republicans are set to vote this week on solidifying significant funding cuts made by the Department of Efficiency (DOGE), just days after a notable breakdown in relations between President Trump and Elon Musk.
The proposed $9.4 billion package aims to reduce budget allocations for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which includes funding for organizations like NPR and PBS, among other areas impacted by DOGE.
However, some Republicans are voicing concerns about various aspects of the bill, raising uncertainty about its prospects in the House. Additionally, the House plans to vote on a measure to classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I.
In the Senate, Republicans are working to finalize amendments to what they describe as a “big, beautiful bill” with hopes of sending it to President Trump by July 4th.
This week, a wave of cabinet secretaries will be visiting Capitol Hill to field questions regarding the budget request for 2026.
House Votes on Codifying DOGE Cuts
House Republicans are gearing up for their first attempt to codify cuts made by DOGE, with plans to vote on the 2025 Retirement Act that proposes a $9.4 billion reduction in federal funding.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to discuss the bill on Tuesday at 2 PM, preparing it for a vote within the week.
“I’m going to codify DOGE Cuts,” said a Republican representative from Louisiana, speaking to reporters on Friday. “I’ve got my first retirement package ready, and I’ll distribute it early next week.”
However, not all GOP members are on board. A few lawmakers have raised concerns regarding elements of the legislation, which might hinder its progress before reaching the House floor.
For instance, Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska has voiced his opposition to cuts that affect the president’s emergency plan established during George W. Bush’s administration. He mentioned that leadership assured him they would adjust the cuts instead of eliminating the entire program.
“I talked to the whip team, and I made it clear—if it’s going to be a full cut to the emergency plan, I’m against it,” he stated.
This push comes on the heels of a recent public spat between Trump and Musk, which escalated from debates over tax cuts and spending into a more personal conflict.
Trump acknowledged in an interview that his relationship with Musk is, perhaps, at an end.
Senate Republicans Pursue “Big and Beautiful Bills”
This week, Senate Republicans are continuing their efforts on the “big, beautiful bill,” aiming to finalize it by July 4th.
As the Chamber of Commerce prepares for a broader vote on the legislation, changes are expected to be solidified throughout the week.
Important discussions remain to be had before final approval, with some conservatives pushing for deeper spending cuts while moderates are advocating for a softer approach to the rollback of the recently approved Green Energy Tax Credit.
Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky remarked on “Fox News Sunday” that the proposed spending cuts do not go far enough. Meanwhile, Kentucky Republicans have also expressed opposition to the proposed $4 trillion debt limit included in the package.
One contentious issue is the state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps. Some moderate House Republicans have negotiated with leadership to ensure a $10,000 deduction cap remains, but Senate Republicans are looking to alter that figure.
Sen. Rick Scott from Florida commented sharply against supporting any increase in the SALT deduction cap, emphasizing, “We shouldn’t subsidize wasteful spending in blue states.”
Members of the SALT Caucus in the House warned that they would not back the legislation if it were modified unfavorably in the Senate.
House Votes on Fentanyl Legislation
This week, the House is expected to vote on a bill that would permanently categorize fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification considers opioids as having a high potential for abuse with no accepted medical use.
The bill, known as The Halt Fentanyl Act, received bipartisan support in the Senate in March, passing with an 84-16 vote and now awaits House consideration.
It is anticipated that the House will approve this measure as well. In February, they had already passed their version of the bill with a vote of 312-108, aligning with ongoing Republican efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis.
Public Hearings Scheduled
This week, various Cabinet Secretaries are slated to appear before Congress for hearings.
There may also be discussions surrounding President Trump’s National Guard deployment in Los Angeles and the current economic climate.
Tuesday, June 10th
- 9:30 AM: House Budget Subcommittee on Defense Monitoring Hearings with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses and Chairman Dan Kane
- 10:00 AM: Energy Subcommittee Hearing on the Ministry of Energy’s 2026 Budget
- 10:00 AM: House Budget Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Development Hearings with HUD Secretary Scott Turner
Wednesday, June 11th
- 10:00 AM: House Ways and Means Committee Hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent
- 10:00 AM: Budget Committee’s Review of the Department of Defense Budget Estimates for 2026
- 10:00 AM: House Agricultural Hearing with Secretary Brook L. Rollins
- 10:00 AM: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the 2026 Budget Request for the Home Office
- 3:30 PM: Senate Budget Committee Hearings on the Treasury’s 2026 Budget Proposal
Thursday, June 12th
- 10:00 AM: House Natural Resources Committee Investigation on the 2026 Budget Requests
- 10:00 AM: House Armed Services Committee Hearing on the 2026 Budget Request
- 10:00 AM: Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the President’s Securities and Tax Reform Budget Proposal
