Congressional Republicans are racing against a Memorial Day deadline to finalize President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' with crucial meetings slated to determine the bill's specifics. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie are seeking guidance from Trump on the bill's content, as broad principles are agreed upon but specific details remain undecided. These committees are responsible for crafting the tax policy and identifying $880 billion in cuts, potentially affecting entitlement programs. Despite broad Republican support for Trump, uncertainty about the White House's precise requirements has delayed detailed discussions, with time running out. The urgency is amplified by the looming deadline and the complex decisions yet to be finalized, challenging the Republicans' legislative agenda.

President Donald Trump is meeting with key Republican committee chairmen to discuss the specifics of his 'big, beautiful bill,' which needs to be finalized before the Memorial Day deadline set by House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The Ways and Means Committee is tasked with detailing the tax policy, while the Energy and Commerce Committee is looking to cut $880 billion, which may impact entitlement programs if cuts are extensive.

Despite broad agreement on the bill's general principles, the lack of detailed guidance from the White House has stalled the scheduling of crucial meetings to draft the specifics.

Republicans are using special legislative processes to bypass a filibuster, emphasizing the importance of specificity in the bill to ensure its passage.

With just 26 days until the deadline, Republicans face significant pressure to make complex decisions quickly to meet legislative goals, as emphasized by a reference to 'Smokey and the Bandit's' sense of urgency.

The bill's passage is seen as pivotal, with most Republicans rallying behind Trump, who holds significant influence over the process, more so than the committee leaders.

The legislative effort is complicated by the need to balance broad Republican support with the detailed crafting of the bill's contents, highlighting the dynamic between the White House and congressional Republicans.