Trump’s Megabill: Senate Passage Nears

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WASHINGTON – June 30, 2025

Trump’s domestic agenda faces key Senate hurdles

GOP infighting threatens the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

• Republican senators are voicing concerns about the bill’s impact on Medicaid.
• The bill aims to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent.
• The House Rules Committee has scheduled a hearing for tuesday.
• Elon Musk has criticized the bill’s spending.

President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful bill Act” is facing significant challenges in the Senate, and what is causing the holdup? Republican opposition to Medicaid cuts and certain tax provisions are jeopardizing its chances of passing in its current form.

President Trump’s aspiring legislative package, a sprawling bill addressing everything from tax codes to Medicaid, encountered significant resistance in the Senate on Monday. Senators debated amendments during marathon voting sessions that will ultimately determine the bill’s fate.

If the Senate approves the legislation-expected by a narrow majority with bipartisan dissent-the house must vote on the final version again before it reaches the president for his signature. the White House had targeted July 4 for passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by both chambers.

Republican dissent grows

Several Republicans, including Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, are publicly criticizing the bill. Tillis, who announced over the weekend he will not seek reelection in 2026, slammed the legislation as a “betrayal” to voters.

“What do I tell 663,000 people in two years or three years, when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid as the funding’s not there anymore?” Tillis saeid from the Senate floor. “The people in the White House advising the president are not telling him that the effect of this bill is to break a promise.”

Both Paul and Tillis voted against advancing the bill and have indicated they will vote against its final passage.

“Republicans are about to make a mistake on healthcare, and betraying a promise,” Tillis continued. “It is inescapable that this bill in its current form will betray the very promise that Donald J. Trump made in the Oval Office, or in the Cabinet room, when I was there with Finance [Committee members] where he said, ‘We can go after waste, fraud and abuse on any programs.'”

Bill details and controversies

While the legislation contains numerous provisions, its most significant would permanently extend the 2017 tax cuts, a costly endeavor. To offset these costs, the bill proposes substantial cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition assistance Program (SNAP), long-standing social welfare programs.

Polling indicates that while Americans generally support extending the 2017 tax cuts and increasing funding for border security and defense, the bill’s cuts to core government programs have led to overall disapproval by a double-digit margin.

Did you know? The bill has hundreds of provisions, impacting everything from tax breaks to social welfare programs.

Parliamentarian’s intervention

The Senate parliamentarian has already struck down several provisions, including one related to state taxes on healthcare providers (the “provider tax”) and another establishing work requirements for Medicaid.

Tillis and a few GOP colleagues, including Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, have voiced concerns about elements of the bill that restrict state taxes on healthcare providers, known as the “provider tax,” an essential tool for many states in their efforts to supplement Medicaid funding.

Republicans’ attempts to prohibit the use of Medicaid funds on gender transition care, cancel regulations requiring minimum staffing ratios at nursing homes, and limit Medicaid access to immigrants were also rejected by the parliamentarian, who continued reviewing amendments on Monday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters outside the chamber on June 30, 2025.

(Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)

Debt concerns and political fallout

These setbacks diminish the bill’s projected cost savings, wich was already poised to increase the national debt by trillions over the next decade. This poses a challenge for fiscal conservatives whose support is essential for the bill’s passage.

the parliamentarian’s decisions also impacted key priorities for Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has expressed concerns over Medicaid cuts as she faces reelection.

“This is an ongoing process – the president continues to be very much engaged with the leadership in both the Senate and the House,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. “He understands that legislators want to protect jobs in the communities and their districts.”

Democrats eye potential gains

Senate Democrats are unified in their opposition, with Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona warning Republicans of potential electoral consequences. “If they lose their health insurance,” he told MSNBC, “sure, they’re going to remember.”

Despite the potential political benefits, Democrats are attempting to modify the legislation, with several proposing amendments on Monday to reverse cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

House challenges loom

Even if the bill passes the Senate, Republicans face a narrow margin in the House. Several representatives, including Rep. David Valadao of California, whose constituents heavily rely on Medicaid, are considering voting against it.

“I’m not a ‘yes’ necessarily,” said Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska who has announced his retirement. Bacon believes the Senate version excessively guts healthcare programs, adding, “I think we’ll have a hard time passing.”

Moreover, an intraparty dispute has emerged among Republicans regarding green energy tax credits. Some GOP senators, including Murkowski, Chuck Grassley, and Joni Ernst of Iowa, seek to preserve these credits, while some House Republicans want to accelerate their termination.

Musk weighs in

Elon Musk, a co-founder of Tesla, and Trump’s close advisor and benefactor before the two men fell out a month ago, renewed his attacks on the legislation Monday, calling it “utterly insane and destructive” for its price tag.

“It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk wrote.

“Time for a new political party,” he added, “that actually cares about the people.”

What’s Next for the “One Big Stunning Bill Act”?

The future of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” remains uncertain.The most immediate action is in the House, where Republican leaders must secure enough votes for passage. further amendments and negotiations are expected as the bill faces these hurdles.

Legislators are actively debating provisions, and the House Rules Committee is scheduled too hold a hearing tuesday. The House must reconcile its version with the Senate’s before any final vote.

Key challenges and Considerations

Several factors are complicating the bill’s path, including:

• Republican Divisions: Deep disagreements exist among Republicans regarding healthcare, tax credits, and spending levels. This internal strife makes it much harder to secure a majority.
• Medicaid Cuts: Proposed cuts to Medicaid have ignited strong opposition.some Republicans, concerned about the impact on their constituents, are hesitant to support cuts, as well as Democrats promising to fight against them, leaving the bill in a precarious position.
• Fiscal Concerns: The bill’s projected impact on the national debt has drawn criticisms from fiscal conservatives. The fact the bill could add trillions to the debt is a major point of contention.
• Political Ramifications: Many Senators up for reelection in 2026 are concerned about potential voter backlash related to Medicaid cuts and other provisions. The 2026 midterm elections loom, and many vulnerable senators would not want to face voters in a position of weakening healthcare benefits.

Pro/Con Table: Examining the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the potential benefits and drawbacks of the bill:

Potential Benefits	Potential Drawbacks
Permanent extension of 2017 tax cuts, offering tax breaks to many Americans.	Increased national debt due to tax cuts and spending provisions.
Increased support for border security and defense spending.	Significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
Investment in state infrastructure projects.	Potential negative impact on healthcare coverage for millions of americans.

FAQs: Addressing Common Questions

Here are some of the most common questions surrounding the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”:

What’s the primary goal of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act?”

The bill primarily aims to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent and address a variety of other legislative priorities,ranging from social programs to infrastructure and defense spending.

Why is Medicaid a major point of contention?

The bill proposes significant cuts to medicaid funding. These cuts are controversial because of their potential impact on healthcare access for millions of vulnerable Americans.

Who is opposing the bill and why?

opposition comes from both Democrats and some republicans. Democrats generally oppose the bill because of its cuts to social programs. Some Republicans disagree with the cuts to Medicaid or the bill’s impact on the national debt, or the effect it will have on their constituents.

How does this bill impact the national debt?

The proposed legislation is predicted to increase the national debt by trillions of dollars over the next decade. This projection raises concerns among fiscal conservatives.

What are the potential consequences if the bill fails to pass?

Failure to pass the bill could delay or derail President Trump’s legislative agenda and have significant implications for tax policy and social programs. Failure to pass this bill places the country at risk for long-term debt problems.