With the election on the horizon, America’s eyes are glued to battleground states. Days after the national election, however, a new battleground will emerge in the United States Senate. Even if Donald Trump wins the White House, he could quietly lose his ability to govern in the Senate.
With Sen. Mitch McConnell stepping down, Senate Republicans will choose a new leader for the first time in 18 years this November. With this decision, we have an opportunity to decide how the Senate conducts business going forward – and the ability to either strengthen or undermine a second Trump term.
The Stakes
Should Trump win a second term, he will have only four years to implement his agenda and reverse the tide of radical progressivism swamping our government and weakening our country. With the uncertainty of 2026 midterms and the inevitable legislative lethargy during campaign seasons, those four years for lawmaking suddenly become much shorter. We cannot afford to lose any time in energetically passing America First policies.
The Divide Within
Practically all Senate Republicans understand that four more years of recycled Biden policies would be a disaster for millions of Americans and their families. But not every Republican in Congress is aligned with Trump’s vision for the country. Some see themselves as stewards of a more moderate brand of conservatism. Still others disagree on policy areas from trade to immigration to foreign policy.
The best way to resolve inevitable disagreements is to allow senators to vote on amendments to legislation. This process allows us to see whether various proposals have enough support to pass. Rather than throwing together massive take-it or leave-it bills, we can build consensus by crafting the legislation, provision by provision, on the Senate floor until we reach consensus. This is how the Senate was intended to function, as it did until recent years.
Second, we must have time to consider legislation. Going forward, the Senate majority leader should establish an annual schedule for considering funding bills. With a reasonable schedule, Congress and the White House will have advance notice to consider and refine proposals for how to fund the government while tackling the bloated administrative state.
When we must consider omnibus funding legislation, which funds the entire government in one bill, we should debate and amend it on the Senate floor for at least four weeks. Those of us planning to advance Trump priorities in such legislation can offer and refine those proposals until they have enough support to pass. The negotiation would happen in the open, rather than in a backroom between House and Senate leadership.
