 "Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, is flanked by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, left, and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, speaks to reporters just after passage of the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts, at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday. AP")
The Republican-controlled Senate narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy package on Tuesday morning, moving it a step closer to becoming law.
According to an NBC News report, the measure passed with a 51-50 vote, after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
Three Republican senators joined all Democrats in opposing the bill, added the report.
The Senate vote came after a grueling overnight session that stretched over 24 hours, during which lawmakers considered dozens of amendments.
GOP leaders delayed several votes as they scrambled to sway holdouts, eventually securing support through a sweeping catch-all amendment that also passed 51-50.
Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Susan Collins of Maine broke ranks to join all 47 Democrats in voting against the final bill.
“The big not so beautiful bill has passed,” AP quoted Paul as saying after the vote.
Tuesday’s outcome brings President Trump to the brink of a major legislative win and marks Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s most significant achievement since taking the helm six months ago.
Nicknamed the “big, beautiful bill” by Trump, the revised legislation now returns to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson will face pressure to push it through before the July 4 deadline set by the president.
“We’re going to pass this bill one way or the other,” NBC News quoted Johnson as telling reporters on Monday.
The hard-fought battle to get the bill through the Senate is unlikely to ease as it heads back to the House, where challenges remain.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSpeaker Mike Johnson had cautioned senators against making major changes to the version already passed by his chamber, but the Senate did just that, especially on Medicaid, potentially setting the stage for renewed conflict as Republicans race to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline.
The outcome marks a critical moment for the president and the GOP, who have poured significant political capital into advancing the 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The legislation has become a defining test of their unified control of Washington.
With inputs from agencies