In Washington, ongoing deliberations in the Senate continued late into the night as Republicans navigated President Donald Trump’s extensive proposal of tax reductions and spending slashes against a backdrop of intense Democratic disapproval. Some hesitation even surfaced on the part of the president concerning the aggressive budget cuts.
The outcome of the Senate’s weekend debates remains unpredictable, and voting, initially set for overnight, has been deferred to Monday. GOP leaders are working against time to meet Trump’s deadline of July Fourth to advance the legislation, but procuring sufficient backing proved challenging. A procedural hurdle was narrowly cleared on Saturday night, amidst a charged atmosphere. Several Republican dissenters nearly derailed the process, necessitating intervention from Trump and an onsite visit from Vice President JD Vance to realign it back on course.
South Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday he would not seek another term after being criticized by Trump for his opposition to the bill due to its deep Medicaid reductions. According to a recent analysis by the neutral Congressional Budget Office, if enacted, the measure could leave an additional 11.8 million Americans uninsured by 2034 and increase the national deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the next decade.
Other Republican senators and conservatives in the House are advocating for more significant cuts, particularly targeting healthcare, prompting a rare warning from Trump cautioning, “Don’t go too crazy! Remember, re-election is still on the horizon,” on social media.
The Senate’s legislative package proposes approximately $4 trillion in tax cuts, solidifying Trump’s 2017 tax rates that are slated to lapse at year-end unless Congress intercedes, alongside incorporating additional cuts from his electoral promises, including eliminating taxes on gratuities. It also seeks to reverse billions in environmental tax incentives, which Democrats caution could devastate the wind and solar sectors nationally, along with imposing stringent work requirements and enrollment qualifications aimed at cutting $1.2 trillion, particularly affecting Medicaid and food stamps. Furthermore, it allocates $350 billion towards border and national security, including deportations, partially funded by levies on immigrants.
If passed by the Senate, the bill would revert to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson advised legislators to be ready for a session this week. In a bid to push through, Democrats are deploying every strategy available to prolong the proceedings as they face an uphill battle with their minority position in Congress.
The Democrats forced a complete reading of the text, which spanned 16 hours, following which senators delivered speeches, dominating the floor while Republicans largely stepped aside. “Reckless and irresponsible,” remarked Michigan Senator Gary Peters. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders critiqued it as “a gift to the billionaire class.”
Patty Murray, a leading Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, criticized the Republicans’ accounting approach, asserting that portraying Trump’s initial tax breaks as “current policy” and excluding their extension costives won’t resonate with Americans tackling personal finances. “Try that with your constituents back home,” she warned, highlighting health care and social program cuts must unjustly offset high debt.
Suggesting the GOP’s susceptibility to Trump’s influence, Sanders conveyed how Tillis’ non-reelection decision reflected a significant sway over the party. “A travesty,” he said, accusing the Republicans of literally starving vulnerable children whilst benefiting affluent billionaires like Jeff Bezos.
Undeterred, Republicans are leveraging their majority control to override Democratic resistance, persisting steadfastly despite political and policy setbacks. “We’re set to pass the ‘Big, beautiful bill’,” declared South Carolina`’`s Senator Lindsey Graham, heading the Budget Committee. The Republican leadership realizes its slim majority affords scarce room for dissenters, given the 53-47 Senate composition and the House scenario.
Trump continues to assert pressure despite previous flexibility on schedule, claiming to campaign against Tillis, concerned about Medicaid slashes impacting healthcare availability in his state. Sunday saw Trump criticizing Tillis via social platforms, implying he had betrayed the people of North Carolina. Subsequently, Tillis publicized his intention not to seek reelection in 2026 through an extensive statement, emphasizing the Senate’s approach conflicted with Trump’s no-healthcare-cuts assurance.
“We should strive for thoroughness,” Tillis implored, maintaining opposition until changes occur.
Republicans are utilizing a strategic legislative approach, termed budget reconciliation, to bypass the traditional 60-vote requirement, allowing a straightforward majority pass. The absence of a filibuster has Democrats leaning on any available delaying mechanisms, like executing full bill readings as historical precedents, and utilizing ten hours’ worth of debate time.
Plans to propose numerous amendments under a phase called a vote-a-rama were in place, though Republicans pushed the anticipated overnight session to early Monday.
Eyes were particularly on Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as Saturday’s vote approached. After intense discussions with GOP leaders, she voted “yes,” with the bill offering perks tailored for Alaska but conflicting with parliamentary guidelines.
Later on, Senate Majority Leader John Thune conferred with Senators Rick Scott, Mike Lee, and Cynthia Lummis, who exhibited reservations. After the meeting, Scott expressed hopeful consensus seeking: “We all want to get to yes.”