House and Senate Begin Budget Bill Markups Amid Partisan Divides

February 12, 2025 – Washington, D.C.

Both the House and Senate have begun the markup process for their respective budget bills, setting the stage for a contentious battle over federal spending priorities. With Republicans controlling the House and Democrats narrowly holding the Senate, the two chambers are expected to clash on key funding provisions, deficit reduction strategies, and major policy riders.

---

Key Differences Between the House and Senate Budgets

House Budget: GOP’s Focus on Spending Cuts and Deficit Reduction

House Republicans are pushing for deep spending cuts, focusing on reducing the national debt, curbing wasteful government programs, and cutting discretionary spending. Early reports suggest their budget will:

✅ Cap non-defense discretionary spending at lower levels
✅ Increase defense spending to counter China and other threats
✅ Overhaul entitlement programs to slow spending growth
✅ Reduce funding for federal agencies viewed as overly bureaucratic
✅ Implement tax reforms aimed at encouraging investment

Republicans argue that their budget is necessary to reign in reckless federal spending and reduce inflationary pressures on the economy.

---

Senate Budget: Democrats’ Investment in Social Programs and Infrastructure

Senate Democrats are crafting a budget that prioritizes investments in social programs, healthcare, and infrastructure while maintaining key entitlement funding. Their framework reportedly includes:

✅ Expanded healthcare funding, particularly for Medicaid and ACA subsidies
✅ Significant investments in infrastructure and clean energy
✅ Increased education spending, including college affordability programs
✅ Targeted tax increases on corporations and high earners to offset costs
✅ Preservation of social safety nets, including Medicare and Social Security

Democrats argue that economic growth and middle-class stability depend on targeted investments rather than broad spending cuts.

---

What’s Next?

🔹 Markup Process Begins – Both the House and Senate committees will now debate, amend, and finalize their respective budget bills before sending them to the floor for a vote.

🔹 Potential Showdown Over Reconciliation – If the two chambers pass drastically different budgets, a conference committee will need to negotiate a compromise.

🔹 Government Shutdown Threat? – If no agreement is reached by the end of the fiscal year, the risk of spending fights and a possible government shutdown looms.

With deep partisan divides shaping the budget process, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the federal government’s funding priorities for the next fiscal year.