What happens now after the House and Senate passed competing budget resolutions

Congress is on to the next phase of reconciliation after a roller coaster of a night in the House, setting up for a round of negotiations with the Senate as each chamber believes it has the best approach to implementing President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Despite last-minute wrangling with holdouts, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) narrowly passed the budget resolution bill Tuesday evening, unlocking the ability to direct House committees to draft legislation at certain spending levels. In passing this bill, Johnson secured a large victory that many Republican senators did not think was likely as they independently moved forward with “Plan B” last week. 

The Senate’s version of the budget resolution authorizes some $340 billion for border security and defense. The measure, which allows Republicans to bypass the filibuster, was adopted 52-48, largely along party lines. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the lone GOP “no” vote.