WASHINGTON — In a dramatic late-night session on Saturday Senate Republicans narrowly advanced a sweeping tax and spending proposal championed by President Trump, as they rush to meet a self-imposed July Fourth deadline.
The Senate cleared the crucial procedural vote 51 to 49 after more than three hours of tense floor negotiations and closed-door huddles. Two Republicans — Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined all Senate Democrats in opposition. Vice President J.D. Vance was present at the Capitol, prepared to break a potential tie.
“It’s time to get this legislation across the finish line,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said following the vote.
The nearly 1,000-page measure, nicknamed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” was unveiled just before midnight on Friday. It would permanently extend approximately $3.8 trillion in tax cuts from President Trump’s first term, add new provisions—including the elimination of federal taxes on tipping—and allocate $350 billion in national security funding, part of which supports a strengthened deportation campaign.
However, the bill also proposes deep reductions to Medicaid, food-stamp programs and investment in clean energy—terms that have rattled both moderate and conservative Republicans. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the legislation could increase the number of uninsured Americans by 11.8 million by 2034.
The White House issued a statement Saturday emphasizing the administration’s “strong support for passage.” President Trump, who spent the afternoon at his Virginia golf course, later criticized holdout Republicans in a social media post, including a pointed threat to campaign against Senator Tillis, who remains unconvinced due to concerns about Medicaid cutbacks in North Carolina.
The Associated Press reported that from the Oval Office, Trump personally lobbied lawmakers over the weekend, according to an official speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Criticism has also come from prominent figures outside the Senate. Elon Musk, normally an ally, called the proposal “utterly insane and destructive” in a public statement.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York criticized Republicans for releasing the extensive text “in the dead of night” and moved to force a full floor reading of the bill—an action that further slowed proceedings.
With Republicans holding narrow margins in both chambers, party leaders face a delicate balancing act. If the Senate approves the bill, it will return to the House for a final vote. Speaker Mike Johnson has dismissed members for the weekend but urged them to remain on call for a potential recall of congressional session.
A key point of contention remains the proposal to raise the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions from $10,000 to $40,000 for a five-year period. Some Republicans argue the increase is too generous; others want even more relief. Meanwhile, House Republicans are divided, with many feeling the package still does not satisfy constituents in high-tax states.
The outcome of this weekend’s negotiations could prove decisive for President Trump and his congressional allies, who have staked much of their domestic agenda on the passage of this legislation.
