In a dramatic late-night Senate session, Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s ambitious legislation blending tax cuts, spending reductions and funding for mass deportations.
The 51-49 procedural vote featured high-stakes moments, including Vice President JD Vance present to break a possible tie, according to the Associated Press.
The vote stalled for over three hours as negotiations unfolded, with two Republicans — Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) — joining all Democrats in opposition.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) pushed for momentum, declaring, “It’s time to get this legislation across the finish line.”
The White House issued strong support, while Trump, at his Virginia golf club, later called GOP holdouts “grandstanders.”
Trump threatened to campaign against Tillis, who opposed deep Medicaid cuts, and lobbied senators by phone late into the night.
Republicans are using their slim majorities to override Democratic resistance, but internal dissent over cuts to programs like Medicaid and food stamps remains.
The $3.8 trillion tax package would make permanent many of Trump’s earlier tax breaks, add new ones — like eliminating taxes on tips — and dedicate $350 billion to national security and deportation efforts.
However, steep reductions in health and food aid are controversial. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) warned the green energy cuts would be “a death sentence” for wind and solar.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the Senate bill would leave 11.8 million more Americans uninsured by 2034, with the wealthiest receiving an average $12,000 tax break, while the poorest would lose $1,600.
Tensions rose as GOP leaders rallied holdouts including Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.); Mike Lee (R-Utah); and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) in negotiations. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) initially voted no, then flipped after private talks.
Lee explained, “We had an internal discussion about the strategy to achieve more savings and more deficit reduction.”
The 940-page bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” was released just before midnight Friday.
Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), slammed the last-minute timing and forced a full reading of the text.
A new version includes softened Medicaid provider cuts and $25 billion to support rural hospitals.
Republicans revised prior proposals that ran afoul of Senate rules. The final bill also raises the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for five years, though disagreement persists.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dismissed the House for the weekend but left members on standby as the GOP races to meet Trump’s July Fourth deadline.
