The U.S. Senate started voting on President Donald Trump’s $3.3 trillion tax-cut and spending bill after a lengthy night of debate which revealed major Republican Party disagreements.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism about passage, though it remained unclear what concessions were made to win over GOP holdouts. Republicans hold a narrow 53–47 majority.
The bill extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts while adding defense and immigration spending and reducing Medicaid and food assistance programs. A decade-long ban on state-level AI regulation was eliminated through a 99–1 vote in the Senate.
The large dimensions of the bill have sparked criticism from fiscal conservatives who predict it will increase the national debt by trillions. Trump has maintained strong pressure for bill passage before July 4 while indicating he would consider delaying the process if necessary.
The decision will affect markets and the 2026 midterm elections and Trump’s economic plans for the future. A successful vote would enable further legislative agreements but also risk intensifying party divisions because the White House plans to pursue 2025 policy initiatives.
