Senate Republicans Rush 54 Days To Lock In Trump’s Agenda Before Democrats Return
Most people think the election ends the work. Senate Republicans plan a 54-day sprint to lock in their agenda before Democrats seize power next year. The clock is already ticking on this final stretch. They want to get everything done while they still hold the gavel.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune made the plan clear right after winning his leadership race. He told the group they are “committed to being here to do whatever it takes to get as much done as we can.” That means working long hours and adding extra days to the calendar. Thune said, “That means extending the calendar here, the number of days we’re here, the number of hours we’re here, the number of votes we may end up taking.”
According to Fox News Digital, lawmakers agreed to this intense schedule during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. The resolution states they will “maximize the 54 days we have with congressional majorities.” Their goal is to confirm every judge and executive nominee the party approves. They also aim to pass core Republican priorities before January 3.
There is another reason to move fast that many miss. Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade argues that Democrats will force President Trump to make a deal on immigration. He told “Pod Force One” host Miranda Devine that “We’re all gonna get whiplash, and it’s not good for anybody.” If a Democrat takes the White House later, they could undo Trump’s border actions. Kilmeade believes the president is under pressure “to … do a deal” to protect the border gains.
Democrats know the border issue is a loser for them, according to reports. He thinks they will tell the president, “You got the border. We’re going to need something for people here.” This could mean legal status for some migrants, but it requires Republicans to “bite their lip” on some points too. The clock on this deal is also running out.
Not every Republican is happy with the current leadership plan. Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick criticized the decision to keep the same leaders after a bad election. He said in a post on X, “One of the things I learned in business and the Army is that after a failure, you have to start with honesty, transparency, and accountability.” McCormick argued they should discuss what went wrong before moving to the next step.
McCormick told Thune that he does not believe they “should move to leadership elections” until they have “digested and debated the lessons of the midterms.” Yet the party moved forward anyway. Thune was re-elected to lead the conference. John Barrasso stays as minority whip, and Tom Cotton remains the conference chair. They will enter minority status with the same team in charge.
Senate Leadership Fund Executive Director Alex Latcham praised Thune’s reelection. He called Thune a “steady conservative hand” who will “continue to deliver on President Trump’s agenda.” The group sees this leadership as vital to fighting Democrat obstruction. The battle lines are drawn, and the 54 days will define the next two years.
The next few weeks will decide which judges sit on the bench for a generation. Republicans want to confirm every nominee they approve before the switch happens. They also plan to try one last time at budget reconciliation. Sen. Ron Johnson, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, will present his plan to the group on Wednesday.
Defense funding is another major task for the party. Democrats plan to use their power over the purse strings to cut spending on the Iran war. Thune hopes they will choose a different route, but the fight is coming. The party must finish this legislative session strong to protect American interests. The work starts now, and there is no time to waste.