Republicans are divided over whether to pursue a third party-line spending package, with some lawmakers expressing skepticism that such an ambitious effort can clear Congress in a high-stakes election year.

GOP leaders and top budget writers have already begun laying the groundwork for a third package, which they hope will include defense funding, fraud prevention initiatives and a slate of affordability-focused measures. President Trump added momentum to the effort Wednesday, urging Republicans in a Truth Social post to pass a $350 billion bill that would include the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and an ID to cast a ballot.

But the prospect of passing another partisan package through the budget reconciliation process is giving some Republicans pause, including those facing competitive reelection races who worry that a politically difficult vote could alienate swing voters back home. Others simply don’t believe there’s enough time to get another massive bill across the finish line.

Reconciliation is a special process that allows the majority party to bypass the filibuster in the Senate, but it is a time-consuming and arduous process that tests party unity. Republicans have passed two reconciliation bills so far during Trump’s second term.

During a hearing Tuesday about next year’s budget for the Air Force, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he thinks “it’s safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill.”

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said in response, “I agree with that assessment.” Collins is up for reelection against Democrat Graham Platner in one of this year’s critical Senate races.

And asked about a third bill, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told reporters Tuesday, “It’s not happening.”

“I mean, you never say no to something you haven’t seen, but that’s part of the problem. I mean, how are we even discussing this when they don’t come to us, right? What does that tell you about their planning and their strategy for success?” Fitzpatrick said. “I mean, they’re going to need our votes.”

Fitzpatrick was one of two Republicans to vote against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year over concerns about Medicaid cuts.

“Any time you’re talking about reconciliation, you have to know what you’re trying to accomplish. You have to socialize it with your membership. You have to get everybody’s input on board. You have to have a common mission that you’re trying to accomplish. I’ll let my colleagues speak for themselves. They have not explained to me and to many others what they’re trying to accomplish here, so they need to be clear up front as to what the goal is. Number two, how are they paying for it? … Are they going to eat into Medicaid? What are they going to do?” he added.

Possibly one of the biggest challenges GOP leaders will face in getting a third bill through is bridging the divide between moderates and hard-line conservatives in their conference, who are likely to have competing visions on the size, scope and priorities included in the legislation.

The intraparty differences could prove difficult to resolve and would only be compounded by the need to reconcile competing visions between the House and the Senate on what the package should look like.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters earlier this week that a third budget reconciliation package to fund the military is on the table.

“If there’s a good reason to do another reconciliation bill, if there’s support for it, then my assumption is that it will be something that could get 218 [votes] in the House and 50 votes in the Senate,” Thune said. “I know the House is working through some of that. We’re involved in some of those conversations and discussions. I think a lot of it would probably be centered around funding the military.”

But some conservatives in the lower chamber have also called for other priorities to be included in a third bill, such as healthcare reform. The Republican Study Committee unveiled a framework for a reconciliation bill in January that included a proposal to have ObamaCare subsidies flow to people rather than to insurance companies.

Despite the looming challenges, House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) shut down skepticism about a third bill when asked about McConnell’s and Collins’s remarks.

“If we want to energize our base and if we want to match or exceed the Democrat voters’ enthusiasm, we’re going to need to utilize every second that’s on the clock for this majority and pass another reconciliation bill, and follow through on the promises we made to our voters. So, this talk about, ‘We can’t do it, I suspect we won’t do it.’ It’s just — to me, it’s loser talk. That is loser talk,” Arrington said.

Arrington added, “I hope that some of my Senate colleagues will reconsider their enthusiasm for a third reconciliation bill. They don’t even have to be enthusiastic. I don’t care if they’re not happy about it. I just want them to participate in advancing the reforms that the American people sent us here to do.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) previously told reporters he expects a third bill to move “in the coming weeks.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said he thinks there’s a “possibility” Republicans get a third bill done, possibly before a monthlong August recess or before November.

“We need to start working on it now, not wait till the last minute,” Burchett said.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) said “there’s some opportunities to do some good things while we have the opportunity.”

“We should do that, but we have to be very thoughtful. If we can address some of the identified sources of fraud, waste and abuse. We can address healthcare issues, perhaps. Perhaps I think there has to be some tax reform, perhaps in there too. So just have to be very thoughtful about it,” Newhouse said.

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