Top Republicans are racing to pass President Trump's ambitious tax and spending cuts package by a self-imposed July 4 deadline, but internal GOP tensions pose significant challenges. The House and Senate are on divergent paths, with the House moving swiftly on several committee markups while the Senate takes a more cautious approach. The debate over Medicaid savings is a major sticking point, with conservatives pushing for states to shoulder more costs, a move resisted by members from Medicaid expansion states. Discussions also focus on cuts to food stamps, where proposals include state cost-sharing and work requirements, but face resistance from some GOP lawmakers. Additionally, a proposed vehicle tax has sparked conservative backlash, highlighting the complex negotiations required to achieve consensus on Trump's agenda.

Republicans face a tight timeline to pass Trump's tax and spending cuts, with Speaker Mike Johnson aiming for a House vote by the end of May, but Senate Republicans are more cautious about resolving policy differences in time.

Medicaid savings are a contentious issue, with GOP hardliners pushing for $880 billion in cuts, largely through increased state cost-sharing, but resistance comes from members in Medicaid expansion states concerned about coverage impacts.

The House Agriculture Committee is tasked with finding substantial savings in food stamps, potentially through state cost-sharing and work requirements, but these proposals face pushback from lawmakers worried about protecting vulnerable populations.

A new proposed $20 vehicle tax, intended to offset the gas tax, has drawn criticism from conservatives who argue it contradicts their limited government principles, illustrating the broader challenge of GOP unity on fiscal policies.

Disagreements over the state and local tax deduction cap from the 2017 tax bill persist, with some Republicans advocating for raising the cap to alleviate burdens on high-tax states, while others oppose federal subsidies for these areas.

Trump has largely delegated negotiations to his cabinet and aides, allowing GOP committees to seek consensus on contentious issues like Medicaid and food stamps, but the complexity of these discussions highlights the difficulty in achieving party-wide agreement.

The GOP's ambitious savings target of at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts intensifies pressure on party leaders to reconcile diverse policy positions and secure sufficient votes for Trump's legislative agenda.