Congress Races Against Memorial Day Deadline on Major Budget Bill Amid Tax Cut and Safety-Net Disputes
April 29, 2025
Republican lawmakers are grappling with the challenge of extending portions of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, set to expire at the end of 2025, with an estimated cost of $4.6 trillion over the next decade, while Democrats oppose changing the scoring method to obscure deficit impacts.
In addition to the budget discussions, significant policy topics include reforms to student loan repayments, potential increases to the SALT deduction limit, cuts to clean energy funding, and a proposed $150 billion increase for the Pentagon's budget.
The proposed budget includes substantial cuts to safety-net programs, targeting $880 billion from Medicaid and $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over ten years, although specific programs for cuts have yet to be identified.
Analysts caution that achieving these budgetary targets could lead to significant reductions in Medicaid and SNAP, which currently support 71.8 million and 42 million Americans respectively, potentially resulting in over 1 million job losses and considerable economic repercussions.
Ongoing disputes regarding spending cuts and changes to safety-net programs may delay the budget's passage, with a realistic vote not anticipated until later in the summer, according to Senate Republican Whip John Thune.
Key Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, are collaborating with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure alignment on the budget legislation.
Moreover, Trump's proposal to cancel $9.3 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting, foreign aid, and other programs will require congressional approval within 45 days, or the funds must be legally disbursed.
Congress is currently focused on a comprehensive budget bill with a self-imposed deadline of Memorial Day, which encompasses discussions on energy, tax, and border provisions.
Summary based on 1 source
Get a daily email with more US News stories
Source

U.S. News & World Report • Apr 28, 2025
3 Things to Watch as Congress Turns to the Budget This Week