WASHINGTON, June 29 — In a dramatic late-night session, Senate Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, clearing a key procedural vote by 51-49 as they race to meet the White House’s July 4 deadline.
The vote, held Saturday night, capped hours of tense negotiations and stalled proceedings on the Senate floor. With Vice President JD Vance present in case of a tie-breaker, the motion to proceed to formal debate passed without his vote, though two Republican senators — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — sided with Democrats in opposition.
“This is a critical moment for the country,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), urging his colleagues to push the legislation “across the finish line.”
The 940-page bill, which was only released minutes before midnight on Friday, combines an extension of Trump-era tax breaks worth $3.8 trillion, aggressive spending cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance, and increased funding for deportations—a package the White House claims will fulfill “critical aspects” of Trump’s economic and immigration agenda.
But while the administration remains firmly behind the bill, opposition is mounting—from both across the aisle and within Republican ranks.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who recently left his post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump, issued a searing rebuke of the legislation. “This bill is utterly insane and destructive,” Musk wrote on social media. “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
In a follow-up post, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO warned the bill would be “political suicide for the Republican Party,” rekindling tensions between Musk and the administration that once celebrated his government service.
Democrats, meanwhile, are decrying what they call a rushed and opaque legislative process.
“This bill was dumped on the Senate in the dead of night,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “Republicans are trying to jam it through before the American people even know what’s in it.”
Schumer is expected to request a full reading of the legislation on the Senate floor—a procedural move that could stall debate for several hours.
While Republicans hold narrow control of both chambers, their internal disagreements over cutbacks to social programs threaten to derail progress. Some GOP lawmakers have expressed unease over proposals to slash funding for Medicaid, food stamps, and other safety-net services to offset the cost of the tax extensions.
Despite these rifts, Republican leaders are pressing ahead, determined to deliver a major legislative victory in time for Independence Day. Should the Senate approve the bill in the coming days, it will return to the House of Representatives for a final vote before it can reach Trump’s desk for signing.
As senators prepare for a marathon weekend of amendments and all-night sessions, the fate of one of the most consequential legislative pushes of the Trump presidency hangs in a delicate balance—caught between fiscal ambition, political loyalty, and a growing public outcry.
