By Maribel Velazquez
donald trump increased pressure on Republicans in Congress by demanding that they push for a new legislative initiative that includes an injection of $350 billion for defense and the approval of an electoral reform that remains blocked in the Senate.
The request was made through Truth Social, where the president urged his party’s legislators to act quickly and avoid any delay in the construction of a new legislative agenda.
Without detours, without delays and without concessions! Do it as soon as possible,” Trump wrote.
The proposal would represent the third major budget reconciliation project promoted by Republicans during the current Congress, after legislation focused on tax cuts and the package aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement.
Defense and elections, Trump’s priorities
The main requirement of the president is to allocate $350 billion additional to the Pentagona figure that would be added to the budget request that his administration has already presented for fiscal year 2027.
Trump also wants Republicans to reactivate the so-called SAVE America Acta proposal focused on changes to the electoral system that has not managed to gather enough support to advance in the Senate.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy by the president to consolidate key issues on his agenda before the midterm elections, although several Republican lawmakers have expressed doubts about the political viability of the concept.
Doubts grow within the Republican Party
Despite the push from the White House, the proposal faces significant obstacles. The recent immigration funding package passed by Congress advanced by very narrow margins, reflecting existing divisions even within the Republican Party.
In addition, some conservative sectors demand offsetting any increase in military spending with cuts in other federal programs, especially in areas of social spending. That possibility is raising concern among lawmakers who will face competitive elections and who might be reluctant to back unpopular measures.
During a hearing on the defense budget, senators Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell They expressed skepticism about the possibility of carrying out another reconciliation project in the short term.
Added to this is that the SAVE America Act remains stagnant and several analysts consider that part of its provisions could not comply with the budget rules necessary to be approved through the reconciliation process.
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