United States: Speaker Mike Johnson voiced urgency Monday, declaring that pivotal hours lie ahead as congressional panels dive into sculpting President Donald Trump’s expansive legislative framework.

“We’ve been chiseling at this blueprint for more than a year—now it’s go-time,” Johnson remarked, underscoring that “the coming stretch is absolutely vital.”

Returning to Capitol Hill after a two-week legislative pause, lawmakers now face an intense sprint. Eleven House committees are poised to unveil separate segments of what will eventually coalesce into a comprehensive legislative juggernaut—an immense bill Johnson aims to usher through the chamber before Memorial Day, an audacious goal, according to CNN.

Following a White House rendezvous with Trump on Monday, Johnson told reporters the bill would “untangle many national knots” and deliver a “propulsive lift to the economy.”

Yet thorny roadblocks remain—chief among them USD 1.5 trillion in projected cuts to federal initiatives and a mammoth reworking of the US tax structure.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, after conferring with Republican brass on the Hill, asserted alignment between House and Senate conservatives on trimming levies.

“The House is blazing ahead, and the Senate is harmonized with the vision. We believe there’s robust unity, and this will culminate in a monumental victory for the American people,” Bessent proclaimed. “It’s a clear pro-growth push.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, however, tempered expectations, saying that even if the House meets its Memorial Day aim, the Senate’s slower-moving machinery—bound by intricate rules—will need more runway, as reported by CNN.

To circumvent Senate gridlock, Republicans are relying on “budget reconciliation,” a procedural pathway immune to filibuster, allowing the agenda to progress without Democratic votes—provided it hews to strict fiscal parameters.

Massive Funding Funnelled into Defense and Border

Republicans in the House have pledged to funnel approximately USD 150 billion into defense ventures, with additional tens of billions earmarked for enhancing border fortifications—cornerstones of Trump’s national platform.

These budget allocations have sparked minimal discord among Republicans, signaling unified backing for military might and homeland reinforcement.

The USD 150 billion defense tranche earmarks USD 25 billion for the “Golden Dome” missile shield, USD 34 billion for naval construction, and over USD 20 billion to stockpile munitions. The House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to start voting on this package Tuesday.

On the security front, the Homeland Security Committee is requesting USD 46.5 billion for new border walls, USD 5 billion to erect modern Customs facilities, and USD 4 billion to hire border enforcement agents.

Further layers include billions for surveillance tech to fortify crossings, along with USD 1 billion set aside for safeguarding the 2028 Olympics and USD 625 million for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as per CNN.

This section of the broader bill is also slated for committee votes starting Tuesday.

Tax Talks Advance, GOP Inches Toward Accord

Bessent reinforced Monday that Trump’s campaign-era tax pledges remain non-negotiable features of the proposed framework. He signaled that talks are inching toward resolution.

“It’s exactly as President Trump laid it out—making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, scrapping taxes on tips and Social Security, eliminating levies on overtime, and enabling 100 percent write-offs for American-made car loans and media gear,” Bessent told the press, as per CNN.

GOP strategists aim to finalize this economic plank by early July.

“We’ve got three pillars: trade, tax, and deregulation. And we hope to hammer out the tax component by Independence Day,” Bessent added, according to CNN.

Pressed on whether the proposal might stoke inflation, Bessent sidestepped but issued a warning: “If this doesn’t pass, working families face the steepest tax spike in history. If it does, they’ll see significant relief in their take-home pay.”

Speaker Johnson, frustrated by what he sees as a sluggish Senate movement, remains intent on an accelerated path.

Although the 2017 tax measures don’t lapse until year’s end, top Republicans want to sidestep intra-party disputes and expedite delivery.

“[Bessent] circled July Fourth—it’s a symbolic landmark. But I’m hopeful we can wrap this before then,” Johnson concluded. “I believe Memorial Day is within our grasp.”