The choices are stark: Should tackling rising rates of homelessness be ignored in favor of confronting climate change? Should Democrats prioritize seniors over the poor? Is it more important to reduce the cost of child care or the cost of school meals?…

Among the most consequential choices facing the White House and congressional Democrats is whether to execute a handful of policies robustly, or a larger number of major policy ambitions in a temporary way. The second option could also entail sharply limiting who qualifies, further bringing down the price tag.

Either path has major drawbacks. By picking only a few programs to implement, the White House likely would improve its odds of ensuring lasting change through achievements noticed by the public. In private conversations, people close to the White House have argued that choosing a handful of key programs to execute well — and making sure they reach tens of millions of people — would help fortify their ability to withstand attack from future GOP administrations.