2025’s first reconciliation is in the books — but Republicans are eager for what comes next, and are spending much of August recess formulating their plans.
One of the first moves out gate comes from the Republican Study Committee (RSC), which hosted its first reconciliation 2.0 working group alongside the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC).
The groups joined forces for a standing room only event, where they strategized the next conservative victories to prioritize. Following a series of executive order codifications in the first reconciliation, the talks have been focused on rolling in more wins on energy policy, reforming government-funded programs, and locking in the America First agenda for decades to come.
“The policy agenda for Reconciliation 2.0 should refocus federal spending on Americans’ priorities and ensure a more compassionate welfare system that stops discrimination against the vulnerable,” EPIC’s Brittany Madni told the Washington Reporter. “It can achieve this through policies that would codify DOGE efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, protect American life and values, make America healthy again, and reduce the cost of living while creating American jobs.”
“Reconciliation 2.0 is the next step for Congress and President Trump to build on the wins from OBBB and continue delivering for Americans,” Madni continued. “A second reconciliation bill is a tremendous opportunity to protect life, fulfill the fiscal framework promised in the FY25 budget resolution, and work through technical issues with important policies that didn’t make it into the OBBB simply because they weren’t ready yet.”
Under its chairman, Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas), the RSC has already been at the forefront of defining what House Republicans would like to see in a reconciliation, taking in feedback from Republican lawmakers, but also from aligned groups like EPIC, which were integral in the first bill’s passage.
Those partnerships, the RSC’s Calli Cooper told the Reporter, will remain ongoing.
“The Republican Study Committee is actively building our proposed framework for reconciliation 2.0 with key groups like EPIC, who were instrumental in the success of the first reconciliation law,” she told the Reporter. “We’re working to continue the conservative momentum by advancing core policy priorities and cementing President Trump’s America First agenda. We’ll engage strategic partners throughout the month of August to build unstoppable momentum and ensure any future reconciliation bill delivers for our Members and their districts.”