Key Points
- The House of Representatives advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill” to a final vote after an intense, overnight session marked by deep Republican divisions.
- The bill includes major tax cuts, increased funding for the Pentagon and border security, and significant spending cuts to federal safety net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.
- The Senate narrowly passed the bill 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after significant amendments, including deeper Medicaid cuts and a $5 trillion debt ceiling increase.
- Conservative House Freedom Caucus members and other GOP holdouts expressed concerns about the bill’s deficit impact and changes made by the Senate, but most ultimately fell in line under pressure from Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson.
- The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the Senate version would increase the deficit by $3.4 trillion over ten years, leaving about 12 million people without insurance by 2034.
- President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson worked intensively to secure enough votes, with Trump personally meeting dissenters and using social media to urge passage.
- Democrats remain unified in opposition, criticizing the bill’s cuts to social programs and disputing White House claims about Democratic opposition to tax relief provisions.
- The final House vote is expected before the July Fourth holiday, aiming to deliver Trump his first major legislative win of his second term.
In a high-stakes, overnight session on Capitol Hill, House Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s massive “Big Beautiful Bill” to a final debate and vote, overcoming a wave of internal dissent and procedural delays. The move marks a significant step toward enacting the centerpiece of Trump’s second-term domestic agenda, which promises sweeping tax cuts, increased military and border security funding, and the most substantial downsizing of federal safety net programs in decades.
What Is in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and Why Is It So Contentious?
The legislation, described by CNBC’s Jacob Pramuk as a “megabill,” extends the 2017 tax cuts, boosts Pentagon and border security budgets, and enacts deep reductions in Medicaid and nutrition assistance for the poor. According to Time’s Mini Racker, the nonpartisan Congress Budget Office projects the Senate version would increase the federal deficit by $3.4 trillion over the next decade and leave 12 million more Americans uninsured by 2034.
The Senate-passed version also raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion—$1 trillion more than the House’s original proposal—and includes controversial provisions such as stricter work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients and changes to provider taxes that fund Medicaid.
How Did Republican Leaders Overcome Internal Opposition?
As reported by Sahil Kapur of NBC News, House Republican leaders faced a razor-thin margin for error, able to lose only three votes if all members were present. Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump spent days lobbying holdouts, particularly members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who objected to the Senate’s amendments and the bill’s impact on the deficit.
According to CNN’s Melanie Zanona, Trump met with both hardline conservatives and moderates at the White House, urging unity and promising that passage would cement his legacy on border security and tax relief. Trump also enlisted Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Medicaid agency, to allay concerns about the Medicaid cuts.
Despite these efforts, five GOP House members—Keith Self (Texas), Andrew Clyde (Georgia), Victoria Spartz (Indiana), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), and Thomas Massie (Kentucky)—initially voted against advancing the bill, while eight others delayed their votes. Ultimately, the House voted 219-213 to move the bill forward, with most dissenters falling in line under intense pressure from leadership and the president.
What Were the Main Points of Contention Among Republicans?
As detailed by Time’s Mini Racker, the House Freedom Caucus circulated a memo condemning the Senate’s changes, particularly the increased deficit and a provision that delayed food stamp cuts in states with high error rates—a measure designed to secure Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) vote. Some deficit hawks, including Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), maintained their opposition, citing the bill’s $3.3 trillion projected debt increase.
Speaker Johnson acknowledged the challenge of uniting his party, telling reporters, “We can't make everyone 100% happy. Never going to ask for that”. Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith urged colleagues not to “let perfection hinder greatness,” predicting the bill would ultimately pass and be signed by Trump on July 4th.
How Did Democrats Respond to the Bill and White House Claims?
Democrats remain unanimously opposed to the “Big Beautiful Bill,” primarily due to its deep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other safety net programs. According to Al Jazeera’s Ali Harb, the White House has made misleading claims about Democratic opposition, suggesting they oppose all provisions—including those they have historically supported, such as child tax credits. In reality, Democrats object to the overall package’s impact on vulnerable Americans, not specific tax relief measures.
The Tax Policy Center estimates the bill would lower taxes by an average of 2.4% for middle-income families—not the largest cut in history, as the White House claims. The largest historical cut was during Ronald Reagan’s administration in 1981, at 2.9%.
What Happens Next in the Legislative Process?
After the House’s procedural vote, members are set to debate the bill for one hour before a final vote, though Democrats may introduce further procedural motions to delay the process. Severe weather and flight cancellations have made attendance unpredictable, adding another layer of uncertainty. If the House passes the bill, it will be sent to President Trump, who has signaled eagerness to sign it into law before the July Fourth holiday.
What Is the Broader Political Impact of the Bill?
As reported by CNN’s Melanie Zanona, the battle over the “Big Beautiful Bill” has exposed deep divides within the Republican Party and raised concerns about the potential fallout in the 2026 midterms. Some Republicans worry that the bill’s unpopular spending cuts could hurt the party’s electoral prospects, while Trump and his allies believe it will solidify his legacy on key campaign promises, such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.
The legislative fight has also produced dramatic moments, including Senator Thom Tillis’s (R-North Carolina) surprise decision not to seek reelection after opposing the bill and facing Trump’s threat to back a primary challenger.
How Did the Senate Pass the Bill and Who Opposed It?
The Senate passed the bill by the narrowest possible margin, 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie after a marathon 26-hour session. According to NBC News’ Adam Wollner, three Republican senators—Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, and one unnamed colleague—voted against the bill due to concerns over its cost and impact on the national debt. Their opposition highlighted the ideological rifts within the party, even as most Republicans ultimately supported the legislation.
What Are the Next Steps for Trump’s Agenda?
With the House poised for a final vote, the outcome will determine whether Trump secures his first major legislative victory of his second term. As CNBC’s Jacob Pramuk notes, the bill’s passage would mark a significant achievement for Republican leadership, who have struggled to manage internal divisions and deliver on Trump’s ambitious policy agenda. If enacted, the “Big Beautiful Bill” would reshape U.S. tax and spending policy for years to come, with far-reaching consequences for the federal budget and millions of Americans.