With the passage of President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” Congressional Republicans are now tasked with setting their legislative priorities for the remaining 18 months of the 119th Congress. This comprehensive bill, which included a wide array of initiatives aligned with Senate budget rules, marked a significant achievement for the GOP. However, it also leaves them with fewer major legislative items to address.

One immediate focus is a “rescissions” bill set to be debated in the Senate. This bill involves a request from the administration to cancel previously appropriated spending, aiming to retract $9.4 trillion allocated for USAID and public broadcasting. The House narrowly passed this measure, and now the Senate must decide on its fate before a looming July 18 deadline. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated that amendments could be made, potentially requiring further negotiations with the House.

The broader challenge for Congress remains government funding and avoiding a shutdown. Earlier this year, Congress managed to avert a shutdown by renewing existing funding levels set by the previous Democrat-controlled Congress. However, this was only possible with assistance from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and some Democrats, who prioritized keeping the government operational over partisan divisions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson faces pressure to fulfill his promise of passing individual funding bills, a commitment made to secure conservative support. Yet, with time running short before the October 1 deadline, it remains uncertain whether all 12 spending bills can be approved in time. The GOP may need Democratic cooperation once again to prevent a filibuster and ensure government operations continue smoothly.

Looking ahead, Republicans are considering another “reconciliation” package to address fiscal issues not covered in the Big, Beautiful Bill. This package would focus on military and border security enhancements while aiming to reduce spending without increasing the deficit over the next decade.

Simultaneously, Republicans are conducting inquiries into former President Biden’s cognitive state during his tenure, seeking legislative solutions for future scenarios where an executive might be incapacitated. While this retrospective approach could pose challenges without a clear Democratic opponent like Biden, it remains part of their broader strategy as they prepare for upcoming midterm elections.

As Republicans navigate these complex issues, they must balance legislative goals with political strategy, knowing that Democrats will likely use recent legislative achievements as leverage in future electoral battles.