Trump assures Senate budget hawks he's committed to steep spending cuts

Senate Budget Committee Republicans said after a Wednesday meeting with President Trump that they’re confident about the path forward for enacting his agenda and his commitment to deep spending cuts in the process.

The White House meeting came as Senate Republicans plan to modify a House budget blueprint that lays out key tax and spending targets for a budget reconciliation package that will carry the bulk of the president’s legislative agenda. The Senate is targeting a vote for later this week.

House Republicans have questioned the Senate’s commitment to spending cuts because they’re eying a lower spending cut floor in the budget blueprint.

But Senate Republicans say that’s only about compliance with their strict rules for the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process and they’re committed to finding massive savings for the final bill.

Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican, said he asked Mr. Trump to help emphasize the spending reduction portion of their legislative goals and he agreed to make a statement on the matter during his 4 p.m. tariff announcement.

“He said, ’I’ll be delighted,’” Mr. Kennedy said, then translating in his own words that the president will “pounce on that like a ninja.”

Mr. Trump’s public remarks could help sway Republicans who question whether the GOP is committed to enough cuts in the package, which will include tax cuts and new funding for border security, immigration enforcement and defense.

Senate fiscal hawks who earlier expressed reservations about whether the plan would lead to enough spending reductions sounded more on board after meeting with the president.

“I believe we’re going to have something that everybody can vote for,” Sen. Rick Scott, Florida Republican, said, noting the president shares his desire to get spending under control.

Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican, said they had a “good conversation with a lot of back-and-forth on what needs to happen.”

He stopped short of saying he was ready to vote for the budget blueprint but said, “We’re making progress, and I think we’re optimistic.”

The House budget instructed its committees to collectively come up with a minimum of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. The Senate plans to keep those instructions but give its committees a much lower floor of around $3 billion.

The Senate is expected to include a nonbinding goal of cutting $2 trillion, similar to one the House included in its plan.

“We’ll pass the resolution sometime over the next few days, but it’s just a baby step,” Mr. Kennedy said, calling the negotiations over the spending and tax cuts and other policies in the reconciliation bill to follow “the real work.”

He predicted Senate Republicans could work out the differences with the House GOP on the budget but ultimately Mr. Trump would have to make the final play calls on the fights to come.

“What will have to happen will be for the president to step in and be the final arbiter on what’s in and what’s out, and then he’s going to have to pull up to put his full weight behind the measure,” Mr. Kennedy said.

Alex Miller contributed to this story.