The Senate is headed for a grueling “vote-a-rama” after Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) signaled Tuesday he would bring tens of billions in border funding to the floor this week.

Democrats will be unable to stop the Senate resolution, $340 billion legislation that covers the border, energy, and defense, from advancing if nearly all Republicans stick together, thanks to a legislative process called reconciliation that allows Thune to bypass the filibuster.

However, a quirk of Senate rules means he will have to overcome multiple procedural hurdles to bring the legislation up for a final vote. There will be up to 50 hours of debate followed by a voting free-for-all in which each side can offer an unlimited number of amendments.

“It’s time to act on the decisive mandate the American people gave to President Trump in November. Securing the border, rebuilding our defense, and unleashing American energy,” Thune said in a statement on X. 

“That starts this week with passing Chairman @LindseyGrahamSC’s budget,” he added. “Let’s get it done.”

In past reconciliation fights, the number of votes sometimes eclipsed 40, a test of will for a chamber disproportionately represented by elderly lawmakers. In 2022, it took more than 15 hours and an all-nighter to complete. 

Those votes are largely nonbinding but offer the minority party, in this case, the Democrats, a rare chance to put senators on the record on thorny matters.

Given the subject matter, Republicans will also have an opportunity to put Democrats on their heels over the border, a subject that plagued them during the November elections. The legislation provides $175 billion for border security plus another $150 billion for defense, with energy provisions that would, among other things, repeal a Biden-era methane emissions fee.

House Republicans have a more sweeping version of the Senate resolution that includes tax reform, but Thune has ignored the wishes of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) by bringing his forward.

The Senate Budget Committee, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), approved its resolution on Wednesday, saving tax cuts for another reconciliation bill later in the year.

Thune’s decision to bring the budget resolution came as the Senate plows ahead with confirming President Donald Trump’s nominees.

The Senate is expected to approve Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary on Tuesday, making him the 17th member of Trump’s Cabinet. Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, will also receive a vote this week.

So far, the House has kept pace with the Senate in passing Trump’s agenda. The House Budget Committee advanced its resolution last Thursday, with a floor vote planned for when the House returns from a one-week recess next week.

However, Senate Republicans are antsy about having a plan B ready for Trump’s signature, given the GOP’s slim House margins. Johnson can only afford to lose a single Republican on any vote.

Johnson won a momentary victory last week when members of the conservative Freedom Caucus supported the budget framework in exchange for $2 trillion in spending cuts.

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However, he is at risk of losing centrist Republicans and possibly the White House’s support with the concessions.

Already, Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) has drawn a red line on Medicaid, a program that is likely to face steep cuts.