The U.S. Congress has passed Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill in a major legislative victory for the former president and a key part of his domestic agenda.
Following a tense and drawn-out session, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a narrow margin of 218 to 214 on Thursday afternoon, after the Senate had approved it by just one vote on Tuesday.
Trump had pushed for the bill to reach his desk by July 4, and he is expected to sign it into law during a special ceremony on the national holiday at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the legislation could add \$3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade and potentially leave millions without health coverage — claims the White House disputes.
Speaking to reporters, Trump hailed the bill as transformative, saying, “This is going to turn the country into a rocket ship.” He described the legislation as “great for the country,” highlighting that it delivers on two major campaign promises: making his 2017 tax cuts permanent and eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security recipients.
The bill also includes deep spending cuts, particularly targeting food assistance, healthcare, and clean energy tax breaks, while allocating \$150 billion each for border security and military spending, including the president’s proposed “gold dome” missile defense system.
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson credited belief and unity within the party for the bill’s passage. However, the road to victory wasn’t smooth—he had to persuade skeptical members like Texas Rep. Chip Roy, who had earlier called the Senate version a “travesty” but ultimately voted in favor without any amendments being made.
Only two Republicans—Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick—voted against the bill.
The vote was delayed by a marathon speech from Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who delivered the longest speech in House history. His address, lasting eight hours and 45 minutes, strongly criticized the bill’s impact on low-income Americans.
Democrats across the board denounced the legislation, calling it a “dark and harrowing” moment and accusing Republicans of catering to the wealthy at the expense of the vulnerable. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi labeled it a “dangerous checklist of extreme Republican priorities,” while others, including Representatives Deborah Ross and Marc Veasey, expressed outrage at its cuts to social programs.
The bill’s fate remained uncertain until the final hours due to internal divisions within the Republican Party. Trump issued a late-night message on Truth Social, pressuring lawmakers to act, writing: “MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!”
Ultimately, the bill passed both chambers of the Republican-controlled Congress, solidifying a major policy win for Trump ahead of his expected presidential campaign.
