by .webp)
Senate Republicans are in a race against time to pass a major budget bill central to President Donald Trump's second-term agenda, with a self-imposed deadline of 4 July. The legislation, dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill," spans 940 pages and was released just after midnight, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune pushing for an initial vote by Saturday afternoon.
The bill, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives two weeks ago, has sparked divisions among Republicans over balancing welfare programme cuts with extending $3.8 trillion (£2.8 trillion) in Trump’s tax breaks. To win over hesitant party members, the latest version includes increased funding for rural hospitals to address concerns from moderates about the impact on their constituents.
A key adjustment involves State and Local Taxes (SALT), a contentious issue for high-tax states like New York. The bill raises the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for married couples earning up to $500,000, aligning with the House version, but this increase will revert to $10,000 after five years.
Core elements of the bill remain, including extending the 2017 Republican tax cuts and introducing new measures Trump campaigned on, such as tax deductions for Social Security benefits and eliminating taxes on overtime work and tips. However, controversial provisions, like restrictions on Medicaid—a healthcare programme for millions of elderly, disabled, and low-income Americans—continue to face scrutiny.
President Trump has urged Congress to act swiftly. Despite Thune describing the Saturday vote as “aspirational,” some Republicans remain unconvinced. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, appearing on *Fox & Friends*, said he would vote “no,” citing insufficient time to review the bill, which he received at 01:23 AM.
With internal divisions and time constraints, it remains uncertain whether Senate Republicans can secure the votes needed to advance the legislation before the deadline.
