GOP Strategizes Trump’s First 100 Days with Major Policy Overhaul

GOP agenda/ Trump first 100 days/ tax cuts/ border security/ Republican plans/ 2024 election/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Republicans are drafting a comprehensive agenda for Donald Trump’s first 100 days if he wins the presidency, focusing on significant tax cuts and border security reforms. Led by GOP leaders in both the House and Senate, the plan includes extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and completing his border wall. Key Republicans, including Mitch McConnell and Mike Johnson, are aligning their legislative priorities with Trump’s goals for a unified GOP government.

GOP’s First 100 Days for Trump: Quick Looks

• Tax cut focus: Republicans plan to extend Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a top priority.
• Border security: New initiatives, including completing the border wall, are central to Trump’s agenda.
• Unified GOP control: Republicans are planning for a united government under Trump, anticipating tax cuts and regulatory reform.
• Leadership roles: Senate and House GOP leaders, including Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, and Steve Scalise, are mapping out the strategy.

GOP Strategizes Trump’s First 100 Days with Major Policy Overhaul

Deep Look

Republican leaders in both the Senate and House are laying the groundwork for Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House, mapping out an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in office if the GOP wins control of both chambers of Congress in 2025. This preparation reflects growing optimism among Republicans that they will not only reclaim the presidency but also maintain their House majority and regain control of the Senate after the November 2024 election.

Central to the GOP’s agenda is an expansive budget reconciliation package aimed at delivering on Trump’s promises of sweeping tax cuts. The plan includes extending the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), Trump’s hallmark legislative achievement, which is set to expire at the end of 2025. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) have been actively coordinating this effort, holding strategy meetings in anticipation of a strong Republican showing in the upcoming election.

In addition to tax reform, GOP policymakers are considering aggressive actions on border security, which has been a focal point of Trump’s 2024 campaign. This could include finishing Trump’s signature border wall, a project that was left incomplete during his first term, and potentially defunding parts of the government that Republicans believe have been misused under the Biden administration. The aim is to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge to secure the border, an issue he has consistently emphasized throughout his bid for a second term.

“The top priority for Republican leaders is to extend the 2017 tax cuts,” according to a GOP aide familiar with the discussions. Senate Republicans, led by McConnell and Thune, along with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who is positioned to chair the Senate Finance Committee in a Republican majority, are spearheading these efforts. Thune, a central figure in the crafting of the original TCJA, is once again taking a lead role in ensuring that tax relief remains a cornerstone of the GOP’s economic platform.

Beyond tax reform, GOP leadership intends to tackle other economic and regulatory issues, including health care transparency and workforce mobility. Thune has been a driving force behind proposals to repeal the estate tax and reduce tax burdens on professionals like doctors and nurses who work across state lines. This year, he introduced bipartisan legislation allowing employers to contribute tax-free funds toward their employees’ student loans, a measure he hopes will gain traction in 2025.

The Republicans are also exploring the use of the budget reconciliation process to fast-track legislation in the Senate. This process allows certain budgetary measures to pass with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster that typically requires 60 votes to advance legislation. By using reconciliation, Republicans could push through significant tax and spending reforms, border security measures, and regulatory rollbacks without needing to court Democratic support.

Speaker Mike Johnson has been particularly vocal about the importance of moving quickly if Republicans win unified control of government. During the summer, Johnson met with GOP senators to discuss a broad legislative package that would incorporate tax cuts, regulatory reforms, and spending reductions. His vision aligns with Trump’s campaign rhetoric, which has focused on revitalizing the economy and securing the southern border.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who is running to succeed McConnell as GOP leader, has also been involved in these discussions. Like Thune, Cornyn is a member of the Senate Finance Committee and is pushing for an aggressive legislative strategy that reflects Trump’s priorities. Cornyn noted that a reconciliation package should not only extend the TCJA but also address the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, where Trump’s policies have resonated with Republican voters.

Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, has been in direct communication with Trump throughout the campaign, discussing the GOP’s top legislative goals for 2025. “I’ve already talked to President Trump about the top priorities he would want,” Scalise told reporters during a recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. Scalise highlighted that Trump’s main concerns are restoring economic growth and securing the border, issues that will be front and center if the GOP wins back the White House.

The GOP leadership is acutely aware that the first 100 days of Trump’s potential second term will be critical in shaping his presidency. Republicans are determined to hit the ground running, avoiding the chaotic start that marked the early months of Trump’s first term in 2017. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who is poised to become the Senate Republican whip in the next Congress, has been actively meeting with Trump’s transition team to ensure the GOP is prepared to move swiftly on its legislative agenda.

“The transition team is more prepared this time,” Barrasso said. “They are better staffed, and they are laser-focused on getting out of the gates quickly.” This sentiment reflects the lessons Republicans learned from Trump’s 2016 victory, where the administration’s initial months were bogged down by internal disorganization and an uphill battle to pass major legislation.

As the 2024 election nears, Republicans are increasingly confident that Trump can win key battleground states like Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Polls show a tightening race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and GOP strategists believe that a Trump victory could provide the momentum needed to secure Republican control of Congress as well.

With these high stakes in mind, McConnell, Johnson, and other GOP leaders are focused on ensuring that their legislative priorities are ready to roll out in the event of an electoral victory. The party is preparing for various scenarios, including the possibility of divided government, but the primary focus remains on achieving a unified GOP government that can deliver on Trump’s vision for his second term.

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