US Senate passes Trump’s sweeping tax, spending bill

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The Republican-controlled US Senate on Tuesday passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, a massive legislative package that would enshrine many of his top policy goals into law while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for final approval. Trump has urged lawmakers to deliver the legislation to his desk for signature by the July 4 Independence Day holiday.

Republicans, who hold slim majorities in both chambers, have faced a difficult path pushing the 940-page bill through Congress. With Democrats unified in opposition, the GOP has had just three votes to spare in each chamber as they negotiated controversial provisions on tax cuts and healthcare that could reshape entire industries and impact millions of Americans.

Despite internal disagreements, Senate Republicans remained mostly united. Only three of the chamber’s 53 Republicans voted against the measure, which passed by a 51-50 margin after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

The House, where Republicans hold a narrow 220-212 majority, is expected to face a similarly close vote. An earlier version of the bill passed the House in May by just two votes.

‘Not fiscal responsibility’

Several House Republicans have expressed concern over the Senate’s revisions to the bill, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates would add $800 billion more to the national debt than the House version.

The House Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline conservatives, is demanding deeper spending cuts than those included in the Senate’s version.

“The Senate’s version adds $651 billion to the deficit – and that’s before interest costs, which nearly double the total,” the caucus posted online. “That’s not fiscal responsibility. It’s not what we agreed to.”

Moderate Republicans have also raised objections, particularly over the bill’s steep Medicaid cuts.

“I will not support a final bill that eliminates vital funding streams our hospitals rely on,” said Rep. David Valadao, a California Republican, during weekend debate.

Despite these concerns, House Republicans are likely to face heavy pressure from Trump to support the bill in the coming days.

Dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the legislation would permanently extend Trump’s 2017 business and personal income tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year. It also introduces new tax breaks for tipped income, overtime, and seniors—key promises from Trump’s 2024 campaign.

The bill includes tens of billions of dollars for Trump’s immigration crackdown and repeals many of President Joe Biden’s green energy incentives.

It would also tighten eligibility for food and healthcare safety-net programs—changes that nonpartisan analysts say would effectively reduce incomes for lower-income Americans by shifting more costs onto them.

The CBO estimates the legislation would increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next decade, pushing the total to $36.2 trillion. Analysts warn that such debt growth could slow economic progress, raise borrowing costs, and crowd out other spending, disproportionately affecting younger generations.

The bill also raises the national borrowing limit by $5 trillion, avoiding a potential debt default this summer that could disrupt global markets.

Republicans have rejected the CBO’s cost projections, but global bond markets remain wary. As deficits deepen, investors may seek alternatives to U.S. Treasuries.

Republican Divisions Over Healthcare, SALT Cap

While the GOP broadly supports the bill’s goals, disagreements remain over key details. Some Republicans from high-tax states—including New York, New Jersey, and California—are demanding relief from the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions.

Others are concerned that proposed changes to Medicaid funding could result in service cuts, particularly in rural areas. On the party’s right flank, some lawmakers have also pushed for deeper Medicare cuts to reduce the bill’s fiscal impact.

Trump has publicly criticized dissenters on his Truth Social platform and excluded some from White House events. Few Republicans have openly defied him since he returned to office in January.

One Republican who did break ranks, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election next year.

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