Senate Advances Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Despite $3.3 Trillion Price Tag
On June 29, 2025, the U.S. Senate voted narrowly (51–49) to move forward with President Trump’s massive 940-page reconciliation bill—a sweeping package of permanent tax cuts, increased military and border spending, and reductions in social programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.
The nonpartisan CBO reported the Senate version would add a staggering $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years—$800 billion more than the House version. Democrats called it “the most expensive bill in U.S. history,” and criticized the use of “fake math” to mask its true cost.
While most Senate Republicans supported advancing the bill, two—Senators Thom Tillis and Rand Paul—dissented. Tillis cited concerns over Medicaid cuts; Paul opposed the $5 trillion debt ceiling increase embedded in the bill. Trump publicly praised this procedural win, pressuring wavering GOP senators to stay in line.
What’s Inside the Megabill
- Tax cuts: Permanently extends 2017 cuts, raises SALT deduction cap to $40,000 through 2029, and includes a $6,000 senior deduction and untaxed tips provision.
- Spending: Boosts military and border security funding by hundreds of billions.
- Program reductions: Tightens eligibility for Medicaid and SNAP. Some clean-energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act are reduced or eliminated.
Senators will debate a raft of amendments—and face a “vote-a-rama”—with final passage still pending. Trump aims for approval before July 4, though Congress must also address the looming debt ceiling by late summer to prevent a default.
Why It Matters
- Deficit surge — A potential $3.3 trillion increase risks adolescent inflation and tighter borrowing costs.
- Split GOP — The vote exposed rifts among Republicans over debt and social program cuts.
- Voters in focus — Deep Medicaid/SNAP cuts could affect millions and fracture public sentiment.
