Congress has passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, delivering a major legislative victory for the Republican leader. Dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” the legislation was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday by a 218 to 214 vote, just days after a razor-thin margin of approval in the Senate.
Trump, who had imposed a July 4 deadline for the bill’s passage, is expected to sign it into law during a ceremony on Independence Day at 17:00 EDT (22:00 BST).
The bill, which totals $4.5 trillion in cuts and spending over the next decade, fulfills two of Trump’s key campaign pledges making the 2017 tax cuts permanent and eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits. It also includes steep reductions in food assistance and healthcare spending, while pouring $150 billion into border security and another $150 billion into military programs, including Trump’s ambitious “gold dome” missile defense system.
Despite passing, the bill sparked intense opposition both within and outside the Republican Party. Texas Representative Chip Roy, initially a vocal critic, reversed course after internal negotiations, while only two Republicans Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick voted against it.
The bill’s passage was notably delayed by Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who delivered a marathon 8-hour-45-minute speech condemning the bill’s impact on low-income Americans.
Democrats have sharply criticized the legislation as a gift to the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi described it as “a dark and harrowing time,” while Representative Deborah Ross called out Republicans for “hurting so many in the service of so few.”
As Republicans chanted “USA! USA!” on the House floor following the final vote, Trump hailed the bill as a transformative moment. “This is going to be a great bill for the country,” he said. “It will turn this country into a rocket ship.”
While Trump and his allies celebrate, the bill’s long-term impact particularly the $3.3 trillion it could add to the national deficit remains deeply contentious.
