Senate Republicans passes Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' after a turbulent all-night session
Share this @internewscast.com

Senate Republicans successfully pushed President Donald Trump’s significant tax breaks and spending reductions bill to approval on Tuesday, securing passage with a narrow vote margin after overcoming resistance from both Democrats and within their GOP ranks during a hectic overnight session.

Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote to break a 50-50 deadlock, enabling the bill’s advancement. The three Republican senators who opposed the bill were Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

This result concluded a particularly stressful weekend of legislative efforts at the Capitol, with the president’s key legislative initiative hanging precariously between approval and failure.

The difficulty it took for Republicans, who have the majority hold in Congress, to wrestle the bill to this point is not expected to let up. The package now goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson had warned senators not to deviate too far from what his chamber had already approved. But the Senate did make changes, particularly to Medicaid, risking more problems as they race to finish by Trump’s Fourth of July deadline.

The outcome is a pivotal moment for president and his party, which have been consumed by the 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” as it’s formally titled, and invested their political capital in delivering on the GOP’s sweep of power in Washington.

Trump acknowledged it’s “very complicated stuff,” as he departed the White House for Florida.

“I don’t want to go too crazy with cuts,” he said. “I don’t like cuts.”

What started as a routine but laborious day of amendment voting, in a process called vote-a-rama, spiraled into a round-the-clock slog as Republican leaders were buying time to shore up support.

The droning roll calls in the chamber belied the frenzied action to steady the bill. Grim-faced scenes played out on and off the Senate floor, amid exhaustion.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota was desperately reaching for last-minute agreements between those in his party worried the bill’s reductions to Medicaid will leave millions without care, and his most conservative flank, which wants even steeper cuts to hold down deficits ballooning with the tax cuts.

The GOP leaders have no room to spare, with narrow majorities. Thune can lose no more than three Republican senators, and already two – Tillis, who warned that millions of people will lose access to Medicaid health care, and Paul, who opposes raising the debt limit by $5 trillion – had indicated opposition.

Attention quickly turned to two key senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Collins, who also raised concerns about health care cuts, as well as a loose coalition of four conservative GOP senators pushing for even steeper reductions.

Murkowski in particular became the subject of the GOP leadership’s attention, as they sat beside her for talks. She was huddled intensely for more than an hour in the back of the chamber with others, scribbling notes on papers.

Then all eyes were on Paul after he returned from a visit to Thune’s office with a stunning offer that could win his vote. He had suggested substantially lowering the bill’s increase in the debt ceiling, according to two people familiar with the private meeting and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said “Republicans are in shambles because they know the bill is so unpopular.”

An analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill became law. The CBO said the package would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the decade.

And on social media, billionaire Elon Musk was again lashing out at Republicans as “the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” for including the $5 trillion debt ceiling in the package, which is needed to allow continued borrowing to pay the bills.

Senators insist on changes

Few Republicans appeared fully satisfied as the final package emerges, in either the House or Senate.

Collins had proposed bolstering the $25 billion proposed rural hospital fund to $50 billion, offset with a higher tax rate on those earning more than $25 million a year, but her amendment failed.

And Murkowski was trying to secure provisions to spare people in her state from some food stamp cuts, which appeared to be accepted, while she was also working to beef up federal reimbursements to hospitals in Alaska and others states, that did not comply with parliamentary rules.

“Radio silence,” Murkowski said when asked how she would vote.

The conservative senators demanding a vote on their steeper health care cuts, including Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, filed into Thune’s office near-midnight.

What’s in the big bill

All told, the Senate bill includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, according to the latest CBO analysis, making permanent Trump’s 2017 rates, which would expire at the end of the year if Congress fails to act, while adding the new ones he campaigned on, including no taxes on tips.

The Senate package would roll back billions of dollars in green energy tax credits, which Democrats warn will wipe out wind and solar investments nationwide. It would impose $1.2 trillion in cuts, largely to Medicaid and food stamps, by imposing work requirements on able-bodied people, including some parents and older Americans, making sign-up eligibility more stringent and changing federal reimbursements to states.

Additionally, the bill would provide a $350 billion infusion for border and national security, including for deportations, some of it paid for with new fees charged to immigrants.

Democrats fighting all day and night

Unable to stop the march toward passage, the Democrats tried to drag out the process, including with a weekend reading of the full bill.

A few of the Democratic amendments won support from a few Republicans, though almost none were passing. More were considered in one of the longer such sessions in modern times.

One amendment overwhelmingly approved stripped a provision barring states from regulating artificial intelligence if they receive certain federal funding.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, raised particular concern about the accounting method being used by the Republicans, which says the tax breaks from Trump’s first term are now “current policy” and the cost of extending them should not be counted toward deficits.

She said that kind of “magic math” won’t fly with Americans trying to balance their own household books.

___

Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti, Darelene Superville and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
'Futurama' cast reunites at San Diego Comic-Con ahead of Hulu season 13 binge drop

‘Futurama’ Cast Gathers at San Diego Comic-Con Before Hulu Releases Season 13

The cast thanks fans, jokes about cancellations, and previews Hulu’s full-season drop…
The US and EU announce a trade framework after Trump holds tariff talks with top European official at Scotland trip

US and EU Establish New Trade Framework Following Trump’s Tariff Discussions with European Leader in Scotland

The United States and the European Union revealed a new trade framework…
Crowded beach in Palaio Faliro, Athens, with palm trees and beach umbrellas.

Young Girl Discovered Deceased on Greek Beach: Police Investigate Her Identity

Tragically, the body of a young girl was discovered on a Greek…
BREAKING: Leading Israeli Rights Groups Accuse Israel of Gaza Genocide

Israeli Human Rights Organizations Accuse Israel of Genocide in Gaza

Two of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations, B’Tselem and Physicians for…
Boxer Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at 72

Boxing Legend Dwight Muhammad Qawi Passes Away at Age 72

While serving a sentence for armed robbery, he participated in the boxing…
Cambodian military truck with rocket launcher driving away.

Thailand and Cambodia Implement Unconditional Ceasefire Following Trump’s Directive After Intense 5-Day Conflict

THAILAND and Cambodia have struck a ceasefire set to begin at midnight…
Rescue workers attending to a derailed train.

Multiple Fatalities and Grave Injuries as Train Derailment in Germany Leaves Passengers Stranded

SEVERAL fatalities and injuries have occurred following a derailment involving a train…
America's skies are wide open to national security threats, drone expert warns: 'We have no awareness'

Drone Expert Warns: America’s Skies Vulnerable to Security Threats Due to Lack of Awareness

As drone technology continues to progress at a rapid pace, experts in…
Suspect walking in a parking lot near Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tragic Mass Shooting at Bangkok Market Leaves At Least Six Dead

AT least six people have been killed after a gunman opened fire…
Georgia boy, 5, accidentally gunned down by twin brother after mother allegedly left weapon lying around

Georgia Tragedy: 5-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot by Twin in Mother’s Careless Weapon Mishap

An unfortunate incident occurred in Georgia where a 5-year-old boy was accidentally…
Luigi Mangione’s lawyers slam ‘vague’ allegations, demand feds show their hand in ‘barebones’ CEO murder case

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione criticize unclear accusations, urge federal authorities to present evidence in ‘weak’ CEO murder case

Attorneys representing Luigi Mangione are alleging that the federal government is presenting…
Federal agents 'stormed the cockpit,' removed Delta co-pilot after flight landed at San Francisco International Airport

Federal Agents Enter Cockpit, Remove Delta Co-Pilot Following Flight’s Arrival at San Francisco Airport

SAN FRANCISCO — A routine Delta flight turned anything but ordinary after…