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President Donald Trump is pressing Senate Republicans to include a debt ceiling increase as part of his broad domestic agenda, which seeks to overhaul the U.S. tax code, border security, energy policy, and defense. According to Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, Trump has advocated for including the debt limit hike within the “reconciliation bill,” allowing him to bypass negotiations with Democrats and avoid a potential default.
The issue was raised earlier this month during a meeting between Senate Finance Committee Republicans and White House officials, where Trump emphasized his desire for a debt ceiling increase to be tied to his sweeping legislative package. Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, confirmed the discussion but did not indicate whether Senate Republicans were unified on the matter.
On Tuesday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and top tax committee members will meet with Trump administration officials again to discuss the reconciliation bill and how to align the House’s budget blueprint—which includes a debt limit hike—with the Senate’s stance on the issue.
While Trump has privately signaled his support for inserting the debt ceiling hike into the package, many Republicans remain uncertain about backing the proposal. Some conservative members of the Senate have warned that they would need significant spending cuts to support a debt limit increase, casting doubt on whether the votes can be secured.
With time running out before a potential default, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected to release its debt limit forecast on Wednesday, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will provide his own projections in May. The White House meeting may provide crucial insights into whether Trump can rally sufficient support to advance his plan.
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