President Donald Trump’s hopes of passing his signature legislation, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” have hit a snag as another Republican lawmaker, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted “no” against a key procedural vote to advance the legislation.
This development comes as the bill faces opposition from some Republicans who are concerned about its potential impact on the national debt and social safety-net programs. The bill, which combines tax cuts, spending reforms, and policy changes, has been a cornerstone of Trump’s domestic agenda.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to keep the vote open “as long as it takes” to ensure that all questions are answered and members are accounted for. “I’ll keep it open as long as it takes to make sure we’ve got everybody here and accounted for and all the questions answered,” Johnson told Fox News. “I made that commitment to my members.” With eight Republican lawmakers yet to vote, the fate of the bill remains uncertain.
The bill’s passage in the Senate was secured with Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote, with a narrow margin of 51-50. Three Republicans – Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky – joined all Democrats in voting against the bill. The measure now returns to the House for final approval, where Republican leaders aim to secure final passage before the Fourth of July recess so the president can sign it into law.²
The “Big Beautiful Bill” would make permanent the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts and introduce new incentives, including a $10,000 tax credit for buyers of American-made vehicles. It also removes taxes on tips and overtime pay through 2028 and raises the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000.
However, the bill’s provisions have drawn mixed reactions, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about the estimated $3.3 trillion it would add to the national debt over the next decade.
As the bill heads back to the House for a vote on the changes made, Trump’s deadline of July 4 looms large. The president has urged lawmakers to clear the legislation in time for a July 4 signing ceremony. With a narrow Republican majority in the Senate and a slim majority in the House, the bill’s future hangs in the balance.