Republicans in Congress are staring down a busy legislative to-do list as they near the end of the reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement agencies, but lawmakers acknowledge time is running short before midterm elections and accomplishing GOP priorities is crucial to maintaining their congressional majority.
Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.V.) told The Hill during the lengthy reconciliation voting session that Republicans risk electoral setbacks if they fail to deliver on key campaign promises before November. "We've done a lot of good stuff, but at the end of the day, we've got to watch, because if we don't watch, the Republicans are going to walk away from the midterms on that night and have a bad night," Justice said.
Among the major items still pending: extension of FISA Section 702 spy powers expiring June 12, passage of the annual defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reauthorization of the farm bill, and negotiation of all 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2027. The reconciliation delay pushed these deadlines closer together.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democrats blocked consideration of FISA Section 702 extension early Friday morning, citing concerns over surveillance authorities that civil libertarians have long argued lack adequate privacy protections. The move reflects broader Democratic frustration with Republican governance priorities heading into an election cycle.
Democrats also criticized using reconciliation a second time to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through 2029 rather than the traditional appropriations process. The agencies were excluded from fall spending bills after Democrats objected to President Trump's immigration enforcement policies, including the killing of two American citizens by immigration agents.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who leads the subcommittee responsible for funding ICE and CBP, acknowledged the precedent concerns while blaming Democratic obstructionism. "I certainly would have much rather we had done it through the regular appropriations process," Britt said. "I think this is a bad precedent, but unfortunately, it's where the Democrats are refusing to move anything forward."
Progressives argue that bypassing regular order undermines congressional oversight and enables partisan funding battles without bipartisan input.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers expressed frustration with Democratic obstruction while projecting confidence they can complete their agenda before fall deadlines. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said he hopes to begin work on the defense bill as soon as next week now that reconciliation is finished.
"We'll be here the rest of the month, so we can get a lot done," Tuberville told The Hill. "I hope. We need to, ain't got nothing else done."
Republicans point to the NDAA as traditionally bipartisan legislation and emphasize its importance for military readiness amid ongoing conflicts. The bill passed out of the House Armed Services Committee late Thursday after a marathon voting session, though Senate consideration remains pending.
Justice highlighted the farm bill as a top priority, noting provisions aimed at lowering fertilizer prices that have risen due to global supply chain disruptions tied to the Iran conflict. "There's a family that's not done anything wrong, except try really, really hard, that's standing on their porch sellin' their dishes," Justice said describing farmers facing economic hardship. "They produce the most bountiful crops on the planet for all of us, and today they're hurting like you can't imagine."
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) expressed optimism after a five-hour House Appropriations Committee meeting that all 12 spending bills could pass out of committee on schedule despite the compressed timeline.
What the Numbers Show
The reconciliation package funds ICE and CBP through fiscal year 2029, representing a significant multi-year commitment outside traditional appropriations channels. The FISA Section 702 extension faces an imminent June 12 expiration deadline if Congress fails to act. The NDAA requires passage through both chambers before identical versions can be signed into law.
Twelve separate appropriations bills must clear committee markup, floor votes and conference negotiations before the September fiscal year deadline. House committees have started finalizing these measures with two already passed by the lower chamber. Some Senate markups originally scheduled for this week were postponed to next week due to reconciliation demands.
The farm bill requires reauthorization every five years under its current structure; the House passed its version on April 30 while the Senate has not yet taken up consideration of its own measure.
The Bottom Line
Republicans face a compressed summer legislative calendar with multiple high-stakes votes clustered around midterm elections. The FISA Section 702 deadline looms earliest at June 12, followed by farm bill reauthorization and NDAA passage before fall.
The appropriations process presents particular challenges given its requirement for bipartisan Senate agreement. A month-long government shutdown last fall demonstrated how difficult annual funding negotiations have become amid partisan tensions over spending priorities.
Senate appropriators acknowledged being behind schedule but suggested completing all 12 bills remains possible if they work through issues quickly. "We want to get them done, but hopefully there are some that should be non-controversial," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said on the Senate Appropriations Committee. "There's always an issue someplace that creates problems."
Watch for floor votes on FISA reauthorization and NDAA consideration as immediate indicators of whether Republicans can maintain legislative momentum heading into August recess.