US Senate narrowly passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax bill

What’s next for the ‘big, beautiful’ bill?

The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to face a tight vote in the coming days.

Trump has set a July 4 Independence Day deadline for Congress to send the bill to his desk, putting pressure on House Republicans — who hold a narrow 220-212 majority — to fall in line.

High stakes

If passed, the legislation would make permanent the Trump-era 2017 tax cuts for businesses and individuals, while introducing new tax breaks for overtime workers, tipped income, and senior citizens. It also provides tens of billions for immigration enforcement and scraps major components of former President Joe Biden’s green-energy initiatives, a report by news agency Reuters reported.

However, the bill has drawn sharp criticism for deep spending cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, tighter eligibility for safety net programs, and an overall increase in the national debt. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Senate version adds $800 billion more in debt than the version previously passed by the House in May.

The bill would also raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, preventing a potential default later this summer.