Senate Deadlock Threatens Trump’s Sweeping Tax and Spending Bill in High-Stakes Weekend Vote
Senate Deadlock Threatens Trump’s Sweeping Tax and Spending Bill in High-Stakes Weekend Vote
WASHINGTON – The Senate is locked in a tense, prolonged Saturday evening session, as President Donald Trump’s ambitious package of tax breaks, spending cuts, and bolstered deportation funds faces a critical procedural vote ahead of his self-imposed July Fourth deadline. The proceedings have ground to a halt for over two hours, prompting Vice President JD Vance’s arrival to potentially break a tie, while Republican senators huddle in last-minute negotiations amidst significant internal dissent.
Despite holding majorities in Congress, Republicans are struggling to unite their ranks. Key sticking points include proposed reductions to Medicaid and food stamps, which are intended to offset the estimated $3.8 trillion cost of extending Trump-era tax breaks and introducing new ones like tax-free tips. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) publicly announced his opposition to the package as currently drafted, citing concerns over Medicaid cuts that could devastate his state. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is against the bill’s provision to raise the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion, while Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) is pushing for amendments related to public lands sales.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) urged colleagues to “get this legislation across the finish line,” echoing strong White House support for the bill, which implements “critical aspects” of the President’s agenda. However, high-profile figures like billionaire Elon Musk have publicly lambasted the package as “utterly insane and destructive,” warning of job losses and “immense strategic harm.” President Trump, who spent the day at his golf course, has repeatedly admonished GOP “grandstanders” to fall in line, emphasizing the urgency to pass his signature domestic policy plan.
The 940-page bill, unveiled just before midnight Friday, faces a grueling path through all-night debates and amendments. It aims to make permanent many of Trump’s first-term tax breaks, which are otherwise set to expire, and allocates $350 billion to national security, including Trump’s mass deportation initiatives. The legislation has already encountered parliamentary hurdles under the Byrd Rule, forcing Republicans to revise proposals related to Medicaid provider taxes and food stamp funding. While a compromise on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap was included, raising it to $40,000 for five years, it remains contentious among some Republicans and House members.
With unified Democratic opposition led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who criticized the bill’s rushed release and content, the narrow GOP majorities mean every vote is crucial. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office previously estimated the House-passed version could leave millions without healthcare and reduce food aid. This weekend’s session represents a make-or-break moment for the GOP, as the fate of President Trump’s legislative legacy hangs in the balance.
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