White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is encouraging Congress to get the “big, beautiful bill” to President Donald Trump’s desk by July 4.
Wiles told GOP senators at a closed-door lunch that the Independence Day deadline still holds as far as Trump is concerned, according to a person granted anonymity to describe the private meeting. Her comments come as Senate GOP leaders move to put the bill on the floor by the middle of next week.
White House officials have been adamant about sticking to the July 4 target, even as GOP lawmakers cast doubt on whether it will be possible to move that fast on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said Wiles encouraged senators to get it through their chamber “as soon as possible.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who organized the lunch, declined to discuss specifics but hinted that Wiles embraced the the July 4 deadline.
“Everybody I talked to in the White House would like to see a bill by July 4,” he said, adding that he believes the deadline is doable.
Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he will cancel a planned House recess in order to get the bill through the other chamber and to Trump’s desk by the holiday deadline. But there remain profound issues for leaders to bridge — both among GOP senators and between Republicans in the two chambers.
Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
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