In an overnight session on Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending legislation early Thursday morning, marking a major political victory for the Republican Party and setting the stage for a transformative shift in U.S. domestic policy.
Dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” by the president, the legislation includes trillions in tax reductions and a major boost in funding for immigration enforcement. The bill offsets much of the new spending through substantial cuts to federal programs, including Medicaid and other social safety net initiatives. After weeks of wrangling, the legislation cleared the House with the slimmest of margins, following a 3:30 a.m. vote that concluded hours of intense negotiations led by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
House Republicans worked around the clock to secure enough votes after a small group of GOP holdouts initially blocked a key procedural step late Wednesday. Four of the five dissenters ultimately shifted their positions following pressure from party leaders and the president, allowing the bill to advance.
On the floor, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries mounted a marathon protest against the bill, speaking for eight hours and 44 minutes in a record-breaking floor speech. He harshly criticized the bill’s reductions to healthcare and nutrition programs, characterizing them as an attack on vulnerable Americans. His speech exceeded the previous record set by Rep. Kevin McCarthy in 2021.
While Democrats unified in opposition, arguing that the bill favors the wealthy and undermines protections for the poor, Republicans countered that the legislation aims to reduce federal waste and incentivize work. Provisions include new eligibility requirements for Medicaid and significant reforms aimed at curbing fraud and inefficiency.
The bill had narrowly passed the Senate the day before with a 51-50 vote, requiring Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote. With razor-thin Republican majorities in both chambers, the legislation faced multiple challenges throughout the process.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill could add $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. The White House has rejected that estimate, accusing the agency of political bias and emphasizing that long-term economic growth, fueled by tax relief and regulatory reform, will help balance the impact.
President Trump had urged Congress for months to send the bill to his desk before July 4, portraying the package as a cornerstone of his renewed domestic agenda. He is expected to sign the legislation into law in a high-profile ceremony ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
