Senate Clears Trump’s “Big, Beautiful” Megabill, Heads Back to House
In a dramatic late-night vote, Republicans in the Senate narrowly passed President Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending package—officially dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill”—sending it back to the House for final approval. The bill passed by a razor-thin 51–50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the decisive tie-breaking vote.
A marathon “vote‑a‑rama” stretched the session into the early hours, marked by fierce debate over dozens of amendments. Three Republicans—Susan Collins, Rand Paul, and Thom Tillis—joined all Senate Democrats in opposing the package, citing concerns over deep Medicaid reductions and potential damage to the social safety net.
The bill contains billions in tax cuts, steep cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance, increased funding for border security and defense, and the rollback of several green-energy incentives. It also temporarily boosts the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap for many taxpayers.
Senate leaders secured the crucial swing vote from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK) by including targeted concessions such as additional support for rural hospitals and gradual rollout of Medicaid work requirements. The latest version also adjusted SALT provisions, allowing higher deductions for households earning under $500,000.
However, analysts warn the legislation could add more than $3 trillion to the deficit over the next decade and result in millions of Americans losing health coverage.
Next up: The House aims to approve the final version in time for a potential July 4 signing ceremony. But the bill faces resistance from moderate Republicans concerned about its impact on healthcare and spending.
