 "US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington DC, June 27, 2025. Reuters")
US President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill, also known as the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, has cleared an important hurdle in the US Senate, as Republicans push to deliver the legislation before the July 4th deadline.
Senators voted 51-49 to move forward with debating Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Act.” Vice President JD Vance was present to break a potential tie, though two Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against starting the debate.
What’s in the Bill?
The $3.8 trillion bill includes measures to:
Make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent
Eliminate taxes on tips and overtime pay
Increase funding for border security
Scrap green-energy tax credits from the Biden era
Trump has urged Republicans, who control both the House and the Senate, to stay in Washington and skip holiday breaks to pass the bill before Independence Day.
Democratic opposition, delays
Democrats are firmly opposed to the bill and have called for a full, public reading of the 940-page text. This could delay proceedings by 12 to 15 hours, reports the New York Post.
Trump warns of ‘ultimate betrayal’
Trump has warned Senate Republicans that failing to pass the bill would be an “ultimate betrayal.”
“The Congress should immediately pass this bill and send it to the President’s desk by July 4th, 2025, to show the American people that they are serious about ‘promises made, promises kept,’” the White House said. “President Trump is committed to keeping his promises, and failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal.”
Challenges ahead
Even after the procedural victory, Republicans face significant hurdles. Party leaders must still negotiate with several GOP senators demanding changes to the bill before they’re willing to vote for final passage.
Trump’s multitrillion-dollar plan aims to lower federal taxes, boost funding for the Pentagon and border security, and cut spending on social programs such as Medicaid.
Despite clearing this key vote, the path forward remains uncertain as divisions persist within the Republican ranks.