Senate Republicans narrowly pushed President Donald Trump’s major tax cuts and spending overhaul through the chamber late Tuesday, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after a tense overnight session and days of political wrangling.
The vote split 50-50, with three Republican senators—Thom Tillis (N.C.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Rand Paul (Ky.)—breaking ranks to oppose the bill, citing concerns over deep cuts to Medicaid and ballooning federal deficits. Vance’s decisive vote secured passage of the 940-page package, officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The legislation, which combines permanent tax breaks with major reductions to social safety net programs, now returns to the House for final approval. But revisions made by the Senate—particularly changes to Medicaid—could complicate its path. House Speaker Mike Johnson previously cautioned senators not to stray too far from the version already passed by his chamber.
Despite holding majorities in both chambers, Republicans struggled for days to unite around the measure, a centerpiece of Trump’s second-term domestic agenda. Over the weekend, a routine process of amendment votes spiraled into a marathon standoff as GOP leaders scrambled behind the scenes to salvage the bill.
“This is complicated stuff,” Trump told reporters as he departed for Florida. “I don’t want to go too crazy with cuts. I don’t like cuts.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) spent hours negotiating between moderate Republicans worried about slashing health care coverage and hardliners demanding deeper spending reductions to offset tax cuts and keep deficits in check.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) became a central focus of those negotiations, holding lengthy, tense talks with leadership. Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul returned from a private meeting with Thune proposing a scaled-back increase to the national debt limit—an offer meant to bring him on board, though he ultimately voted no.
Sen. Tillis warned that the bill’s Medicaid changes could leave millions without access to care, while Sen. Paul opposed raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, calling it fiscally irresponsible.
Democratic leaders lambasted the bill. “Republicans are in shambles because they know this bill is deeply unpopular,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a sobering analysis, estimating that 11.8 million Americans would lose health coverage by 2034 if the bill becomes law. The CBO also projected the plan would increase the federal deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the next decade.
Adding to the criticism, billionaire Elon Musk derided the legislation on social media, dubbing the GOP “the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” for packaging tax cuts with a massive debt ceiling hike.
As Republicans prepare for a final push in the House, the bill’s fate remains uncertain—hinging on whether party leaders can keep their fragile coalition intact and meet Trump’s ambitious July Fourth deadline.
