The Republican-controlled House approved a budget resolution on Wednesday with a vote of 216-214 that initiates the process of drafting a $95 billion spending bill. The measure allows for expedited Senate passage under reconciliation rules, which bypass the traditional filibuster and require only a simple majority rather than 60 votes. Three lawmakers—two Republicans and one independent aligned with the GOP—joined all Democrats in opposing the resolution.
The funding allocation addresses several priorities identified by the Trump administration. The armed services and intelligence committees have been authorized to propose approximately $73 billion in spending through 2036, with the majority directed toward military operations against Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed the Senate that the ongoing conflict has cost $37.5 billion thus far. The Trump administration previously requested roughly $88 billion in supplemental funding, with up to $67.1 billion allocated for the war effort.
The resolution also allocates $12 billion for agriculture committee proposals intended to assist farmers affected by global conflict impacts and Trump’s tariff policies. Additionally, the House administration committee received authorization for $10 billion in spending changes, expected to support implementation of the Save America Act, a measure championed by Trump that would ban mail-in ballots nationwide and implement stricter voter identification requirements.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Republicans aim to pass “as much of that as possible” regarding the Save America Act. However, Senate reconciliation procedures restrict legislation to spending, revenue, and debt limit matters, meaning the bill’s policy provisions are likely to be removed during Senate consideration. Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune indicated no immediate timeline for action, suggesting the chamber could hold the resolution for potential use in government funding negotiations before the September 30 deadline.
Democrats criticized the proposal, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries characterizing it as economically harmful and noting a perceived disparity in funding priorities. Some Senate Republicans have also expressed concerns about the measure, citing insufficient defense spending relative to administration requests and the absence of spending offsets amid rising national debt.
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