House Republicans unveil blueprint to extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and lift the debt ceiling – The Associated Press
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to talk to reporters after a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans to find agreement on a spending bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. The current stopgap measure lasts through March 14. After that, without congressional action, there would be a partial government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., joined at left by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., departs after talking to reporters about a spending bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., joined at left by Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, R-Ariz., praises President Donald Trump as he describes the sight of the president on the giant video screens during the Super Bowl, at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is surrounded by reporters asking about his plans to move ahead with a spending bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., speaks during a news conference on Russ Vought’s nomination at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans released a budget plan Wednesday that sets the stage for advancing many of President Donald Trump’s top domestic priorities, providing for up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit so the U.S. can continue financing its bills.
The budget plan also directs a variety of House committees to cut spending by at least $1.5 trillion while stating that the goal is to reduce spending by $2 trillion over 10 years.
The blueprint represents a first step in a lengthy legislative process that would allow Republicans to pass some of their top priorities in a simple majority vote. The House Budget Committee is expected to hold votes on the plan on Thursday. House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted it would easily advance out of committee.
“Then, we’ll work with everybody over the week to make sure they are on board,” Johnson said.
Johnson has set an ambitious schedule for moving the resolution and subsequent legislation, but tensions remain within the Republican conference about the scope of the proposed tax and spending cuts. Some want more in tax cuts than what is in the blueprint while others want steeper spending cuts.
“There’ll be a lot of negotiations back and forth,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of moving parts to this, but our objective is to fulfill all the president’s campaign promises and the full agenda, so we have time to do that.”
Budget resolutions are often considered statements of priorities. But the 45-page plan is more than just a policy blueprint as it provides specific directions to House committees to rearrange the federal money flow. GOP leaders are eyeing cuts to social services, and particularly Medicaid, as they seek massive savings.
The Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles health care spending, is asked to cut $880 billion over the decade, while the Education and Workforce Committee is asked to reduce spending by $330 billion. The Agriculture Committee is asked to save $230 billion, while the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is asked to find at least $10 billion in cuts through 2034.
Even as some programs would be cut, money would be shifted to other Trump priorities, including a $100 billion boost in defense spending over the next decade through the Armed Services Committee and an additional $90 billion for the Homeland Security Department, which is carrying out Trump’s massive immigration deportation.
House Democrats were harshly critical of the budget plan.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries held a joint press conference and accused Republicans of not taking action to lower costs for everyday Americans since securing the White House and both chambers of Congress.
“Why? Their primary objective is to enact massive tax cuts for their billionaire donors and wealthy corporations,” Jeffries said. “That’s what the Republican budget is all about.”
There is also concern from Democrats that the plan could lead to cuts in the safety net. Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democratic on the House Budget Committee, said the tax cuts won’t pay for themselves through increased economic growth so cuts to various government programs such as Medicaid will be sought.
“Their plan blows up the deficit and sticks the middle class with the bill, whether through higher prices, deep cuts to essential programs, or both,” said the Philadelphia lawmaker.
Republicans say they don’t want to take benefits away from those who rely o
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