In a dramatic late-night showdown on Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans barely pushed through a procedural vote to move forward with Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill—a plan that critics warn could devastate access to health care and food assistance for millions of low-income Americans.
The 940-page bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” was released just before midnight Friday. Less than 24 hours later, senators were locked in a 51–49 vote, with JD Vance on standby to break a potential tie.
Two Republican senators—Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky—broke ranks and voted “no,” citing deep concerns over steep Medicaid cuts and a $5 trillion jump in the debt ceiling.
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What’s In the Bill?
Here’s what Trump and Senate Republicans are trying to fast-track:
• Make Trump-era tax cuts permanent for corporations and wealthy individuals
• No taxes on tips, catering to the service industry, and gig workers
• $350 billion boost for national security and border enforcement, including mass deportation efforts
• Massive cuts to Medicaid and food stamps (SNAP)
• Elimination of green energy investments, impacting wind and solar industries
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office warned the Senate version of the bill could leave 11.8 million more Americans without health insurance by 2034 and cut off at least 3 million from food assistance.
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Senate Drama and GOP Divisions
Saturday’s vote didn’t come easy. Voting came to a standstill for over three hours as GOP lawmakers scrambled to secure enough support. Key senators met in private rooms, while Trump phoned lawmakers from the Oval Office. He also blasted Tillis on social media for not falling in line.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, long seen as a swing vote, eventually voted to proceed after intense lobbying. Senators Rick Scott, Mike Lee, and Cynthia Lummis were pulled into last-minute meetings to get onboard.
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Revisions, But Still Cuts
To get more Republicans on board, the bill was tweaked to:
• Delay the start date for Medicaid provider tax cuts
• Add a $25 billion fund for rural hospitals
Still, the core of the bill remains the same: Cut essential programs for low- and middle-income Americans to pay for permanent tax breaks.
The bill also includes a compromise on the SALT cap (state and local tax deductions), raising it from $10,000 to $40,000—but only for five years, and still leaving some lawmakers unsatisfied.
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Next Steps
The Senate will grind through debates and amendments through the weekend. If the bill passes, it returns to the House, then heads to the White House for final approval.
Trump is pushing hard for passage before July 4, aiming to declare victory on one of his biggest domestic priorities. But with razor-thin margins and public backlash growing, the road ahead is anything but smooth.
