President Trump moved a step closer to securing his biggest legislative victory of his second term on Tuesday as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” narrowly passed the Senate following a tense 27-hour session of debate and amendments. The vote was split 50-50, requiring Vice-President JD Vance to cast the deciding vote after three Republican senators defected.
Despite the razor-thin margin in both chambers—the House passed its version of the bill 215 to 214—the legislation still needs final approval from the House, which is expected to vote again on Wednesday. However, the bill’s path to the president’s desk by July 4, Trump’s target date, remains uncertain as hardline fiscal conservatives in the House threaten delays.
Opposition from Republican lawmakers intensified after the Congressional Budget Office projected the Senate version of the bill would increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over ten years, $1 trillion more than the House version. The White House has pushed back, claiming that the bill will reduce the debt by $1.4 trillion through economic growth and spending cuts. Administration officials also pointed to potential revenues from Trump’s proposed tariffs, which could bring in trillions depending on the outcomes of a trade review scheduled to conclude on July 9.
Trump, buoyant during a public appearance at a Florida detention center alongside Governor Ron DeSantis, dismissed concerns over the debt and emphasized the need to prevent a scheduled $3.8 trillion tax increase if his first-term tax cuts expire. He praised the bill as critical to protecting working-class Americans and furthering his economic legacy.
Still, internal GOP divisions are hard to ignore. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted against the bill due to concerns over healthcare cuts, while Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky criticized what he called “weak” and “anaemic” spending reductions.
Billionaire Elon Musk reignited the controversy by slamming the legislation, calling it proof that the US is governed by a “Porky Pig Party.” Musk, who donated nearly $300 million to Republicans in the last election cycle, renewed calls for the creation of a third political party, citing runaway federal spending. In response, Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning that Musk’s federal contracts could be at risk and even threatening to drive him out of the country.
The clash reflects a broader ideological rift within the Republican Party, between traditional fiscal conservatives and Trump’s new coalition, which includes many working-class voters who depend on programs like Medicaid and Social Security. While Trump has promised not to cut these programs, the bill does introduce new work requirements for Medicaid that the CBO estimates will leave 11.8 million more Americans uninsured by 2034.
Though Democrats lacked the votes to block the legislation, they managed to strike out its nickname—“One Big Beautiful Bill”—during Senate deliberations. The official title is now the less memorable “To provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H Con Res 14.”
