Capitol agenda: GOP prepares a weekend jam for Democrats

Republicans are bracing for weekend work to push through a stopgap funding bill. The first step: reaching consensus on new money for member security.

The debate around the cost and viability of additional security measures — elevated in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination — will come to a head in Tuesday morning’s House GOP conference meeting. Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) will brief members on current security resources and what additional options might look like.

GOP leaders think the most viable plan is to extend the expiring pilot program — which provides security for members when they’re home in their districts — through the length of the continuing resolution. They’ve discussed a range of alternatives but are circling an additional $30 to $50 million, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the talks.

“I get it’s going to cost a lot of money, but funerals aren’t cheap either and we need to have some protection for certain members,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told reporters Monday.

If House GOP leaders unveil CR text later Tuesday as they hope, the chamber likely won’t vote until Friday. That means the Senate could be working on Saturday or beyond to meet Majority Leader John Thune’s target of wrapping things before next week’s scheduled recess.

And that’s if Democrats cooperate, which is a big “if.”

Meanwhile, the bigger picture is coming into focus as a group of GOP senators begin crafting legislation to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies with policy changes designed to win over fellow Republicans.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said Monday he was “part of the group that’s working on the wording to make sure we do it right.” It comes as more Republicans acknowledge the political risk of allowing insurance premiums to hike on Jan. 1.

But Democrats are still waiting for Republicans to sit down and negotiate a funding deal, which could encompass an extension of the ACA subsidies.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have not publicly outlined a specific policy demand that Republicans would have to offer in order to secure votes for the CR. Instead, Schumer is pushing for a “bipartisan negotiation where we can address some of the grave harms Trump has caused to our health care system.”

Thune continues to wave off Democrats’ calls for more talks and is ruling out a deal on the expiring tax credits for now.

“I don’t know at this point if there’s a lot to talk about,” Thune told Blue Light News on Monday evening, adding that the subsidies “will be an issue for hopefully in November when the time comes.”

What else we’re watching:   

— Patel hits Blue Light News: FBI Director Kash Patel will be in the congressional hot seat Tuesday in front of Senate Judiciary and Wednesday before House Judiciary. Expect lawmakers of both parties to grill him on the agency’s handling of the assassination of Charlie Kirk and its decision to withhold materials in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, along with firings at the bureau under Patel’s watch.

— Senators re-up tariff fight: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is leading a bipartisan effort this week to force a vote that would roll back Trump’s “emergency” tariffs on Canada and Brazil. He and his allies, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), think their past success with a similar measure and increased public anxiety about higher prices will earn them the necessary votes this time.

— Greene’s weather forecast: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has previously stoked conspiracy theories about weather manipulation on social media. She’ll use her Oversight gavel Tuesday to elevate her concerns on Capitol Hill. Her DOGE subcommittee hearing will ostensibly examine cloud-seeding and solar geoengineering — methods that could increase rainfall or limit the amount of sunlight absorbed by the earth.

Meredith Lee Hill, Jordain Carney, Benjamin Guggenheim, Hailey Fuchs and Ari Hawkins contributed to this report.