The Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the narrowest of margins on Tuesday, after a marathon session that stretched out over two days.
The bill passed 51-50, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) joining all Democrats and independents against. Vice President JD Vance broke the tie.
The legislation is the signature priority of President Donald Trump, extending the 2017 tax cuts, adding billions to border security and increasing defense spending. But the mammoth legislation also includes cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, while rolling back clean energy credits and initiatives.
GOP Senate leaders had to thread a needle between moderates worried about the cuts to health care and social services, and budget hardliners warning about its impact on the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that it will add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the next ten years. Elon Musk, once Trump’s highest profile ally, has warned again in recent days that the legislation would send the country into “debt slavery.”
Given the Senate’s revisions, the bill now heads back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson again will face winning over budget hawk skeptics in his party, with few votes to spare. The bill passed out of the House last month by just one vote.
Polling has shown that the legislation is unpopular, albeit significant numbers of voters still do not know enough about it. The White House has been touting its tax cuts. They include new provisions for no taxes on tips and overtime up to $25,000.
