Senate Republicans have narrowly advanced a sweeping budget bill central to former President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda, setting the stage for an intense battle ahead of a self-imposed July 4 deadline.
In a 51-49 procedural vote late Saturday, the Senate agreed to open debate on the 940-page legislation. The decision came after days of tense negotiations and internal Republican clashes, with Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) breaking ranks to join Democrats in opposition.
The bill—dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” by Trump—proposes $3.8 trillion in extended tax cuts and a series of contentious spending reductions, particularly targeting Medicaid and other welfare programmes. If enacted, it would mark one of the largest overhauls of U.S. federal spending in years.
President Trump hailed the initial passage as a “great victory” in a late-night social media post, while criticising Senator Paul for his dissent. “Did Rand Paul Vote ‘NO’ again tonight? What’s wrong with this guy???” Trump posted.
Paul objected to provisions that would raise the national debt limit, while Tillis voiced concerns that the healthcare cuts would cost his state billions, citing damage to Medicaid, which provides insurance to millions of low-income and elderly Americans.
Despite Republican fractures, Senate leaders were able to shore up support from centrists like Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ron Johnson (R-WI), who reversed his initial “no” vote at the last minute. Vice President JD Vance was on standby to cast a tiebreaker, but his vote was ultimately not required.
The bill now heads into open debate, with a final Senate vote expected in the coming days. Republicans, who hold 53 seats, can afford only three defections, including Vance’s deciding vote.
Should the bill pass the Senate, it must return to the House for final approval. But potential resistance looms there, with some House Republicans uneasy about Senate revisions made to appease moderate holdouts.
Democrats have vowed to stall the process. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has insisted the entire bill be read aloud before further debate can begin. “Senate Republicans are scrambling to pass a radical bill released in the dead of night,” Schumer said, accusing the GOP of trying to rush the legislation past public scrutiny.
The White House has endorsed the latest draft, warning in a memo to Senate offices that failure to pass the bill would be “the ultimate betrayal.”
The legislation retains Trump-era tax cuts, including exemptions on overtime and tip income, and introduces a new Social Security tax deduction. But it also includes major cuts to Medicaid, estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to leave 7.8 million people uninsured.
Elon Musk added to the criticism, warning the bill would “destroy millions of jobs” and harm renewable energy sectors by introducing new taxes on solar and wind projects.
As the Senate braces for a heated final vote, the bill remains a political litmus test for the GOP’s ability to govern—and a major flashpoint in Trump’s push to cement his legacy in a possible second term.
