After hours of deadlock, Republicans in the US Senate narrowly passed Trump’s massive tax and spending bill. As a result, the bill has overcome one of its major hurdles.
After more than 24 hours of intense debate, Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to secure Senate approval of the proposed legislation, dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The bill now heads back to the House, where it faces stiff opposition. The bill was previously passed by House Republicans by a single vote.
Trump has given the Republican-controlled Congress a July 4 deadline to sign the bill into law. However, the president himself acknowledged Tuesday morning that the deadline would not be met due to disagreements over the deficit, social programs and spending limits.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune tried to rally his party’s support, but lost Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky. All three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill.
Despite earlier reservations, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was able to convince the Republican leadership to support her. As a result, the final vote was 50-50, with Vice President Vance leading the bill with a tie-breaking vote.
The bill is considered a cornerstone of Trump’s second term. It would make permanent the major tax cuts that were temporarily implemented during his first term.
To offset the revenue loss, Republicans are seeking to cut spending on services for low-income Americans, such as food subsidies and health care.
The vote took place on Tuesday morning. The heated debate on Capitol Hill ended after a fast-paced voting session.
Democrats tried to create procedural hurdles to delay the bill. They demanded that the 940-page bill be read aloud and that a broader debate on proposed amendments be held, dubbed “Vote-a-Rama.”
Highlights of Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’:
House Republicans still have to agree to changes made by the Senate to the bill. But the bill’s future remains uncertain, as it faces fierce criticism from various religious and economic perspectives.
Economists have expressed dismay over the impact the proposal would have on America’s annual budget deficit. The deficit, which is defined as the government spending more than it receives, could increase by about $650 billion a year, the House Freedom Caucus said. “This is not fiscal responsibility,” they said on social media Monday. “We do not accept this.”
Some House Republicans are also concerned that the Senate bill would significantly cut Medicaid health insurance for low-income Americans.
Democrats have also been sharply critical of the welfare cuts in both houses.
House Republicans are reportedly working against the July 4 deadline. “I would love to get it done by July 4, but I don’t know if it’s possible… maybe July 4, or close to it,” Trump told reporters before leaving for Florida.
Elon Musk slams:
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been vocal about the plans, has previously supported Trump but is now warning Congress against the bill.
He has said he will form a new political party if the bill passes. He also warned on Monday that he will stand up to Republicans who vote for the bill.
“All members who campaigned on debt control and voted for the largest debt increase in history should hang their heads in shame,” he wrote on X (Twitter).
The bill’s cuts to government support for renewable energy and electric vehicles could be a blow to Musk’s Tesla, which is a company he founded.