After days of tense negotiations, late-night debates, and a marathon amendment session, President Donald Trump’s massive domestic policy package—dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill—barely cleared the Senate on Tuesday. The vote? A razor-thin 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.
While Republicans are touting the Senate passage as a major victory, the fight is far from over. The bill now heads to the House, where GOP leaders face a narrow path to passage and growing resistance—even within their own ranks.
What’s in the Bill?
The legislation is a sweeping, multi-trillion-dollar package that aims to enshrine much of Trump’s second-term domestic policy vision. While the full details remain under debate, key components include:
Major tax cuts
Substantial reductions to Medicaid spending
Immigration enforcement funding
Deregulation of several federal agencies
Expansion of Trump’s “America First” economic policies
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade, prompting alarm from fiscal conservatives in both chambers.
Senate Drama
The bill’s Senate passage came after a grueling 24-hour “vote-a-rama” during which dozens of amendments were proposed. While none fundamentally changed the bill, Democrats used the process to force Republicans to take public stances on a range of politically sensitive issues.
Three Republican senators—Thom Tillis (NC), Rand Paul (KY), and Susan Collins (ME)—broke ranks and voted against the measure. Their concerns ranged from deficit implications to specific provisions around healthcare and federal authority.
Despite those defections, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) managed to shepherd the bill through, calling it “a monumental step forward for President Trump’s agenda.”
Still, the win may be short-lived.
A Fractured House
The House already passed its own version of the bill earlier this year, but the Senate made significant changes—including deeper Medicaid cuts and tweaks to tax provisions—forcing the House to either accept the new version or risk derailing the entire package.
With a razor-thin GOP majority, Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose only three Republican votes if Democrats uniformly oppose the measure. That margin has become increasingly shaky as hardliners grow vocal.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) blasted the Senate’s move to “jam” the House with its version of the bill before Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline.
“This is not a surprise, but it would be a mistake,” Roy posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I would not vote for it as it is.”
Other conservatives echoed similar concerns, calling the bill fiscally irresponsible and accusing Senate Republicans of caving to pressure.
Trump Turns Up the Heat
President Trump has made passage of the bill before Independence Day a key symbolic goal, describing the legislation as essential to “restoring American greatness.” He’s been waging a pressure campaign on Truth Social, urging lawmakers to “lock yourselves in a room if you must” and finalize the legislation.
With both chambers now on the clock, the final days before July 4 could determine the fate of what Trump hopes will be a legacy-defining bill.
What Happens Next?
The House is expected to vote on the revised version within days. If they accept the Senate’s changes, the bill will head to Trump’s desk in time for the holiday. If they don’t, leaders could enter a conference negotiation—or risk seeing the entire effort collapse.
The stakes are high. For Trump, it’s about delivering on a signature promise. For Republicans in Congress, it’s a test of unity and message discipline. And for the American public, it’s a glimpse into the sharp divides still shaping U.S. policymaking in 2025.
