In a significant political maneuver, Republicans in the U.S. Senate have narrowly passed Donald Trump’s expansive proposal, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which addresses vital aspects of tax and spending. The bill was approved thanks to a tie-breaking vote from Vice-President JD Vance after a lengthy 24-hour debate resulted in a 50-50 split in the Senate.
This landmark legislation, considered a key component of Trump’s second term agenda, now heads back to the House of Representatives where it faces potential opposition. Previously, a version of the bill had passed in the House with just a single vote margin. Trump has urged Congress to finalize the bill before a looming deadline of July 4, hoping to capitalize on the momentum established during his first term.
Despite the victory in the Senate, Trump may face significant opposition due to internal disputes among Republicans. Notably, three Republican senators—Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky—joined Democrats in voting against the bill. However, Republican leadership managed to sway Alaska’s Senator Lisa Murkowski to support the legislation, reinforcing the narrow majority needed to pass.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposes to make permanent substantial tax cuts previously enacted during Trump’s first term while suggesting cuts in funding for various social programs, including healthcare and food subsidies for lower-income Americans. This aspect has drawn criticism from fiscal conservatives concerned about the impact on the national deficit, with estimates suggesting that the bill could add $650 billion annually to the deficit—a concern echoed by the House Freedom Caucus.
The fallout from this vote extends beyond mere political maneuvering, with tech magnate Elon Musk, once an ally of Trump, publicly opposing the bill. Musk’s criticism of the proposed spending increase adds a layer of complexity to the landscape, as he threatens to support challengers to Republican lawmakers who support the bill.
As the bill makes its way back to the House for further consideration, the atmosphere around it remains fraught with contention. With fiscal responsibility concerns and the conflicting interests of various stakeholders, the chances of achieving the July deadline seem increasingly uncertain.
Whether Republicans can unite to support this legislation remains to be seen as pressure mounts from both sides of the aisle.