- Trump’s sweeping tax bill narrowly passed the House with a 215–214 vote after intense GOP negotiations.
- The package includes permanent tax cuts, stricter Medicaid work rules, and a big SALT cap hike.
- The Senate still needs to debate and amend the bill before it reaches Trump’s desk by July 4.
After a long, chaotic push, House Republicans managed—just barely—to shove President Trump’s latest tax package through the chamber early Thursday morning. It passed on a knife’s edge: 215–214. Every single Democrat voted against it, joined by a couple GOP rebels—Reps. Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie. One more defection, and the whole thing would’ve crashed. Close doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Rep. Andy Harris, who chairs the Freedom Caucus, didn’t vote yes or no—he went with “present.” And Rep. Keith Self, apparently the very last to cast a vote, said he wasn’t thrilled either. “Would’ve liked it to go further,” he told NBC. “But hey—we did what we could.” The bill, dubbed “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” is over a thousand pages long (plus 40+ more in amendments), packed with giveaways to win over just about every faction inside the GOP tent.
Big Promises, Big Cuts—and Even Bigger Divides
The bill’s packed with headline items: permanent Trump-era tax cuts, work requirements for Medicaid bumped up two years earlier (a win for hardliners), and a quadruple hike in the SALT cap—from $10K to $40K—for those earning under $500K. That last one sealed the deal for Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, who was holding out till the SALT piece landed. “This was a promise,” he said. “And we got it done.”
Still, the cost is massive. Wall Street isn’t exactly thrilled. Markets dipped Wednesday, with analysts worried the spending spree could blow out the deficit long-term. The 30-year Treasury yield? Hit 5.09%. That’s… a flag. And Democrats? They’re livid. The bill takes a machete to the social safety net—Medicaid, education, and more—to fund tax breaks that mostly benefit the rich. The CBO’s take? Lower-income households lose, top earners gain. Plain and simple.
A Long Road Ahead in the Senate
Now the real fight begins. Over in the Senate, the bill moves under reconciliation rules, so it technically only needs 51 votes. But several Republicans already say the House version won’t cut it. Changes are coming—lots of ‘em. The final bill might look pretty different, assuming it even makes it out.
Speaker Mike Johnson, riding high after the vote, said they’re pushing to get it on Trump’s desk by July 4. “Today proves we can do that,” he said. Trump was even more amped. “Send this Bill to my desk AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!” he posted on Truth Social. Caps and all.
Long Days, Late Nights, and a Rush to the Finish
To get it done in time, the House Rules Committee ran 21 hours straight—no break. Lawmakers were exhausted, but determined to meet Johnson’s Memorial Day deadline. Each tweak, each amendment, was a careful nod to this group or that district. Some wanted more cuts. Others wanted more perks. In the end, they stitched together just enough votes to squeak by.
It’s a big deal politically—Trump needed this win. But it’s a complicated, heavy bill. A lot of people love parts of it. A lot more hate other parts. And as the Senate gears up for its own brawl, it’s clear: this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
