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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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President Donald Trump's sweeping budget package will move to the Senate after narrowly passing in the House early Thursday morning.
The package, which Trump dubbed his "big, beautiful bill" contains a range of measures, including increased spending for the U.S. military and border security and tax cuts.
Trump's bill, which would implement sweeping tax cuts, budget cuts and new work requirements for Medicaid, passed by a razor-thin margin and the Senate may make changes to the legislation.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson called passing the bill a "historic moment."
Why It Matters
The more than 1,000-page bill passed 215-214 following days of negotiations. Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted against it, joining every House Democrat.
The bill, which includes about $4.9 trillion in tax breaks, was passed after weeks of negotiations and talks with Republicans, some of whom were concerned about constituents losing critical benefits and others who called for further budget cuts.
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What To Know
The Senate will consider the legislation under budget reconciliation rules, which require a simple majority to pass instead of 60 votes, as is typically required.
The chamber has a 53-47 Republican majority, so needs near unanimity for the bill to pass. It is expected that the Senate will make changes to the bill.
Some Senate Republicans, such as Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Josh Hawley of Missouri, have expressed opposition to the Medicaid cuts in the bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican who has been working with House Republicans who drafted the bill, told reporters that "the Senate will have its imprint on it." He has called for making permanent some tax provisions that are set to expire after a few years.
The bill is not expected to be taken up by the chamber until early June, but Republicans have set a July 4 deadline for both chambers to pass the bill. The budget reconciliation rule also means there is a 20-hour limit on debate.
What People Are Saying
Speaking to Newsweek, Thomas Whalen, an associate professor who teaches U.S. politics at Boston University, said: "The old proverb about the greatest tragedy in life is getting exactly what you want applies here. The bill will easily pass the Senate and become law but this will be the kiss of death politically for the GOP in the midterms. You don't cut Medicaid benefits to millions, blow up the national debt and give a huge tax cut to billionaires at the expense of the middle class and NOT expect a blowback from voters."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Wednesday: "When it comes over here, I think [Johnson] would like to see as little change to the product as possible, because they've cobbled together a delicate balance over there.
"The Senate will have its imprint on it."
Representative Thomas Massie: "We're not rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic tonight. We're putting coal in the boiler and setting a course for the iceberg."
The old proverb about the greatest tragedy in life is getting exactly what you want applies here. The bill will easily pass the Senate and become law but this will be the kiss of death politically for the GOP in the midterms.
You don't cut Medicaid benefits to millions, blow up the national debt and give a huge tax cut to billionaires at the expense of the middle class and NOT expect a blowback from voters.
Update 5/23/25, 5:27 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Thomas Whalen.
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