Senate Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending package during a dramatic late-night vote Saturday, clearing a key procedural step as they push to meet Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline.
The 51–49 vote came after more than three tense hours on the Senate floor, with Vice President JD Vance on standby to cast a tie-breaking vote if needed. In the end, two Republicans — Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) — joined Democrats in opposing the motion to proceed.
Despite clearing this hurdle, the bill still faces a challenging path forward, with a long weekend of debate, amendments, and internal GOP negotiations ahead.
A Contentious Push
The bill — officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — spans 940 pages and combines $3.8 trillion in extended tax breaks with deep spending cuts, especially to Medicaid, food assistance, and green energy programs. It also includes $350 billion for national security priorities, including mass deportation operations.
Not all Republicans are aligned behind the sweeping legislation. Several moderates worry the cuts go too far, while fiscal conservatives are demanding even more reductions to address the national debt.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) urged his party to rally behind the package, saying, “It’s time to get this legislation across the finish line.”
Trump Turns Up the Pressure
As the Senate voted, President Trump remained active from his Virginia golf club, posting photos with visiting GOP senators on social media. By Saturday evening, however, he was reportedly making phone calls from the Oval Office and publicly pressuring dissenters.
Trump lashed out at Sen. Tillis for opposing the bill over concerns about Medicaid cuts that could leave many North Carolinians without coverage. Meanwhile, tech billionaire Elon Musk weighed in online, calling the legislation “utterly insane and destructive.”
Despite the criticism, the White House issued a statement strongly supporting the bill’s passage.
Senate Showdown
The vote followed a frenzied evening of negotiations and arm-twisting. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who initially opposed the bill, flipped his vote after closed-door discussions. Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.), Mike Lee (Utah), and Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.) were pulled into a late meeting with Thune and Vance before returning to cast votes in favor.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was also seen in deep conversation with GOP leaders before ultimately voting to advance the bill.
After the vote, Sen. Scott said, “We all want to get to yes.” Lee added, “We had a productive internal discussion about savings and deficit reduction. There’s more to come.”
Democrats Cry Foul
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted Republicans for introducing the bill “in the dead of night,” accusing them of rushing it through before the public has a chance to fully understand its implications.
In protest, Schumer forced a full reading of the bill on the Senate floor — a process expected to take hours.
A fresh Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis warned the Senate version of the bill would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 11.8 million by 2034. The House version, passed earlier this year, showed similar figures: nearly 11 million losing health coverage and at least 3 million fewer qualifying for food assistance.
The CBO also estimated that top earners would gain around $12,000 annually from the tax cuts, while the poorest households would lose approximately $1,600.
Internal GOP Tensions
Republicans suffered several early setbacks after some of their proposals — including shifting food stamp costs to states and changing how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded — were ruled out of bounds under the Senate’s budget rules.
But party leaders quickly revised and reintroduced many of those items.
A controversial cut to Medicaid’s provider tax that had sparked concerns about rural hospital closures was also adjusted. The updated language delays implementation and sets aside $25 billion to support rural healthcare providers.
SALT Deduction Debate Still Brewing
A compromise over the hotly debated SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction also made it into the Senate bill. The cap would rise from $10,000 to $40,000—but only temporarily for five years. The change was a nod to Republicans from high-tax states like New York and California, though the provision still faces resistance from fiscal hawks and mixed reviews in the House.
What’s Next
With razor-thin GOP margins in both the House and Senate, party unity remains critical. House Speaker Mike Johnson has sent members home for now but instructed them to stay on standby for a potential return.
If the Senate passes the final version of the bill after days of debate and amendments, it will head back to the House for approval—potentially putting one of Trump’s most ambitious second-term policy goals within reach just in time for Independence Day.
