House Republicans cleared a major hurdle Wednesday in their push to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, setting up final passage ahead of the self-imposed July 4 deadline.
The procedural vote had been held open for hours as Speaker Mike Johnson worked to flip a handful of Republican holdouts. In the end, the bill advanced with a 219-213 vote, just above the GOP’s slim majority threshold.
What’s in the bill
At the core of the bill is an extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, including a temporary elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay — two promises Trump made on the campaign trail.
The bill also:
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Increases defense spending
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Boosts immigration enforcement
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Raises the national debt limit by $5 trillion
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Cuts funding for Medicaid and various clean energy programs
The sweeping legislation spans nearly 1,000 pages, representing what supporters call a historic realignment of the federal government’s priorities.
Johnson holds the line
Speaker Johnson, navigating sharp internal divisions, kept the vote open for hours as he negotiated behind closed doors. It’s unclear what, if any, concessions were made to secure the final votes.
Republicans could only afford to lose three members, making every holdout a critical vote.
Despite those challenges, Johnson got it done — pushing the bill to the debate phase, which could take several more hours before the final vote.
If the numbers hold, the GOP will deliver the bill to President Trump’s desk before Friday.
Democrats already plotting revenge
Even as Republicans celebrate, Democrats are already weaponizing the bill as the centerpiece of their 2026 midterm messaging.
They plan to run against the bill’s Medicaid cuts and tax relief, betting that the public will side with bigger government and entitlements over the America First agenda.
