The U.S. Senate is in the middle of a long and intense voting session on a major budget bill that is crucial for President Donald Trump’s agenda. This spending plan, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has been under negotiation for weeks and is now facing a tough battle in the Senate.
Republicans, who control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, are divided over how much to cut welfare programs to make room for tax breaks. Some party members are pushing for significant cuts, while others are concerned about the impact on low-income Americans. Elon Musk, a former close aide to Trump, has criticized the legislation, calling it “insane.” The president’s party is racing to pass the bill by July 4th.
If the Senate approves the measures, the bill will go back to the House, which previously passed its own version by just one vote. Senators are currently debating amendments to the nearly 1,000-page bill in a process known as "vote-a-rama," which could last up to 20 hours. The session is expected to continue into the early hours of Tuesday morning. If passed, the bill could lead to cuts in welfare programs and an increase in the national debt.
The national debt currently stands at $36 trillion, and the new bill could add an estimated $3.3 trillion to that figure. Musk has threatened to form a new political party if the legislation goes through. Trump has suggested that a government efficiency department, which Musk once led, should review the subsidies that Musk’s companies receive.
On Monday, senators voted on various amendments before retreating to private meetings to discuss their concerns. An amendment proposed by Florida Senator Rick Scott could potentially cause 20 million Americans to lose their health insurance, according to estimates. Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the amendment, arguing that it would not take effect until 2031.
Democrats have consistently opposed the bill, particularly because of the cuts to health insurance for millions of Americans. They plan to use all of their allotted debate time, while Republicans are expected to have a shorter discussion. Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat, described the bill as “terrible” and expressed doubt that Senate Republicans would meet Trump’s deadline.
Over the weekend, Democrats used a political strategy to slow down the bill by having Senate clerks read the entire 940 pages aloud, taking 16 hours. The Senate narrowly approved the bill for debate with a 51-49 vote. Two Republicans sided with Democrats against the bill, advocating for further changes. One of those Republicans, Senator Thom Tillis, announced his retirement following his vote, criticizing the legislation for not fulfilling promises made to voters.
As the Senate prepares for a full vote on the bill, Republicans can only afford to lose three votes for it to pass. If three members vote against it, Vice President JD Vance will need to cast a tie-breaking vote. The bill would then return to the House, where a vote could happen as soon as Wednesday. However, fiscal conservatives within the House Freedom Caucus have threatened to block the Senate version over budget concerns, arguing it adds too much to the deficit.
Democrats across both chambers have largely opposed the proposed spending cuts and tax breaks. The debate continues to center on how to balance welfare cuts with the proposed $3.8 trillion in tax breaks. If the bill passes, it could strip nearly 12 million Americans of their health insurance coverage, raising significant concerns among critics.