After signing a flurry of executive orders, President Donald Trump will shift to his Capitol Hill agenda Tuesday in a White House meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The new Republican trifecta has much to discuss. GOP lawmakers want more guidance on whether they’ll be expected to cram Trump’s priorities on the border, energy and taxes into one bill or two. They also want directions on spending limits needed to pass government funding legislation by mid-March and clarity on how to handle the debt limit, as the U.S. faces a potential default in the months ahead.
“All of it’s on the table,” Johnson said in an interview.
Here’s what else we’re watching today:
- Ratcliffe and Hegseth: Thune said he’s hoping to confirm John Ratcliffe to be CIA director in a Senate floor vote Tuesday. He’ll need the green light from every senator, otherwise the majority leader will have to wait a few days to bring it up. It’s unclear when he’ll look to move forward on Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.
- Other nominees: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination for U.N. ambassador and Senate Veterans’ Affairs will hold a hearing on former Rep. Doug Collins’ nomination for VA secretary. The Senate Finance Committee will vote on Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary.
- TikTok drama continues: Trump’s Day One decision to rescue TikTok is frustrating Senate Republicans, setting up a clash between the new president and members of his own party. While some GOP lawmakers insist the Beijing-based ByteDance doesn’t need more time to divest, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are putting together a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to save the app through legislation.
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Jordain Carney and Ben Leonard contributed to this report.
