The U.S. Senate has launched into a marathon voting session over President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget plan, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a cornerstone of his second-term agenda. The high-stakes legislation faces fierce internal GOP divisions, particularly over proposed welfare cuts designed to fund extended tax breaks.
The Republican-controlled Congress is racing to pass the nearly 1,000-page bill before Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline. But deep ideological rifts—exposed during a dramatic “vote-a-rama” session involving up to 20 hours of continuous debate—have cast doubt on whether the bill will survive intact.
Complicating matters further is Trump’s former advisor Elon Musk, who has publicly condemned the bill as “insane” and a betrayal of Republican promises to shrink government. Musk, who has threatened to form a new political party, slammed the plan’s $3.3 trillion debt increase, warning he would target any GOP lawmaker who backs the package. Trump fired back on Truth Social, accusing Musk of being “the king of subsidies” and hinting the Department of Government Efficiency—once led by Musk—should investigate the billions his companies have received.
Amid the tension, senators spent Monday shuttling between floor votes and closed-door meetings. Democrats, unified in opposition, seized procedural tools to stall the process—most notably forcing clerks to read the entire bill aloud, a 16-hour spectacle that stretched into the night.
Florida Senator Rick Scott’s proposed Medicaid cuts, part of the GOP’s cost-saving strategy, have sparked outrage. Analysts warn the amendment could strip health coverage from as many as 20 million Americans. Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the plan, noting it wouldn’t take effect until 2031.
Democrats plan to exhaust their full 10 hours of allotted debate, with Senator Adam Schiff calling the bill “terrible” and doubting Republicans can meet Trump’s July 4 target. Meanwhile, cracks have appeared within GOP ranks. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis—who recently announced his retirement—voted against advancing the bill, accusing his colleagues of breaking campaign promises. Kentucky’s Rand Paul also voiced concern over both the debt and the Medicaid reductions.
Republicans can only afford to lose three votes. If that threshold is reached, Vice President JD Vance would be called to break the tie. Should the bill clear the Senate, it would then return to the House—where the Freedom Caucus has vowed to block it unless key budgetary changes are made.
As the clock ticks, the fate of Trump’s “big, beautiful” legacy bill hangs by a thread, with the nation watching one of the most dramatic legislative showdowns in recent memory.
