Congress has officially passed President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated “one big, beautiful bill,” clearing the final hurdle on Thursday after grueling overnight sessions in both the House and Senate.
The sweeping legislation, central to Trump’s second-term agenda, now heads to the president’s desk just in time for the GOP’s self-imposed Independence Day deadline.
The House of Representatives narrowly approved the massive package in the early morning hours, with a final vote of 218-214. All but two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — supported the measure.
The outcome marks a hard-fought win for Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump, both of whom worked late into the night to persuade hesitant GOP lawmakers.
“The President is very engaged. He helped answer questions and articulate his vision and what this bill will mean for the country,”
Johnson told reporters. Trump himself took to Truth Social during negotiations, urging Republicans to back the legislation, calling it “an easy YES vote.”
What’s in the “Big, Beautiful Bill”
The bill is a major legislative achievement for Trump and his allies, encompassing priorities on taxes, border security, defense, energy, and the national debt. Among its key provisions:
- Taxes: Permanent extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s lower income tax brackets, temporary deductions for tipped and overtime wages, and a new deduction for seniors 65 and older.
- Energy: Rollback of green energy tax credits from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act — a move Trump supporters hailed as ending the “Green New Scam.”
- National security: Significant funding boosts for defense and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to bolster Trump’s immigration crackdown.
- Debt ceiling: A $5 trillion increase to avoid a potential U.S. credit default this summer.
- Welfare reform: Expanded work requirements for Medicaid and federal food assistance programs.
While Republicans argued the bill delivers tax relief for working and middle-class Americans and reins in excessive federal spending, Democrats condemned it as a giveaway to the wealthy that slashes benefits for those in need.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted the late-night debate tactics, accusing Republicans of trying to “jam this bill through… under cover of darkness.”
Despite the tensions, Republican leaders stayed united, framing the measure as vital to restoring fiscal responsibility and national strength.
Club for Growth praised the bill’s passage as the dawn of a “new Golden Age,” while House GOP Policy Chairman Kevin Hern credited years of groundwork for the victory.
President Trump is expected to sign the legislation into law by July 4, sealing a major win for his administration.
