GOP Rushes Tax Bill to Meet July Fourth Deadline \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ House GOP leaders rushed Congress late Wednesday to secure final passage of President Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax and spending bill before the Fourth of July deadline. After Senate approval 51–50, House Republicans delayed for hours as members met with Trump and Kremlin leaders lobbied. The bill, deeply divisive, includes large tax cuts and social program reductions and faces unified Democratic opposition.
Quick Looks
- House reconvenes late Wednesday amid GOP infighting
- Senate cleared the bill 51–50 via VP tiebreaker
- GOP majority razor-thin, just 220–212, forcing tight vote
- Moderate Republicans object to Medicaid cuts; conservatives want deeper cuts
- Trump lures holdouts to White House for deal talks
- Democrats vow “Hell no!” and target GOP vulnerability
- Bill expands tax breaks but slashes Medicaid and SNAP funding
- CBO warns $3.3 trillion added to debt; price tag totals $4.5 trillion
Deep Look
In a dramatic day that highlighted the volatile nature of modern congressional politics, House Republicans scrambled late Wednesday to finalize President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill before the self-imposed July 4 deadline. The scene in Washington was one of organized chaos, with Speaker Mike Johnson urging unity while navigating a fragile majority and growing dissent from within his own party.
The legislation, estimated at $4.5 trillion over 10 years, is one of the most consequential policy efforts of Trump’s post-reelection agenda. It promises a vast expansion of tax cuts for individuals and businesses—many of which originated during Trump’s first term—while making controversial cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance (SNAP). The House had already passed an earlier version of the bill in May by just one vote, but the Senate’s narrowly approved version—thanks to a 51–50 split and a tiebreaking vote from Vice President JD Vance—contained deeper cuts and new fiscal projections that raised alarm bells among moderates and fiscal hawks alike.
After a procedural vote passed in the House Wednesday morning, action stalled. For over seven hours, lawmakers were absent from the chamber floor as GOP leaders conducted high-stakes negotiations behind closed doors. Many Republicans were summoned to the White House to meet with Trump personally, underscoring his direct influence over legislative strategy. The president’s message was clear: “We’re on a roll,” he told lawmakers, pushing for rapid passage.
Yet within Republican ranks, unity remained elusive. Moderate representatives from swing districts voiced concern over the Medicaid and SNAP provisions. The Senate version proposes steep eligibility restrictions and introduces a controversial 80-hour monthly work requirement for many adult beneficiaries. Conservatives, on the other hand, objected to what they saw as bloated defense spending and a lack of deeper cuts to discretionary programs.
Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise worked late into the evening, coordinating strategy and issuing personal appeals. Johnson is operating with a razor-thin 220–212 majority, which means that even a handful of defections could sink the bill. To shore up support, Johnson has leaned heavily on Trump’s political clout—an approach that was notably effective with Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. After initially signaling opposition, Tillis reversed course following a public rebuke from Trump and a not-so-subtle suggestion that a primary challenger might await him.
Opposition from House Democrats has been fierce and unanimous. Led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrats denounced the bill as “cruel and reckless,” characterizing it as a giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of America’s most vulnerable. Jeffries took aim at provisions that would, according to Democrats, “literally rip food out of the mouths of children, veterans, and seniors.” Standing outside the Capitol flanked by fellow Democrats, he declared, “Hell no!” to the bill.
Jeffries has also worked to flip vulnerable Republicans in battleground districts, hoping to sink the bill by swaying just four votes. Citing the late Senator John McCain’s iconic “thumbs-down” on a previous GOP health care repeal effort, Jeffries called for similar courage, specifically naming representatives like Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry.
Beyond social services, the bill includes a slate of tax benefits Trump championed during the 2024 campaign, including deductions for tip and overtime income and a new $6,000 tax break for lower-earning seniors. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the bill would yield a $150 tax cut for the lowest income bracket, $1,750 for middle-income earners, and nearly $11,000 for top earners—if passed before current provisions expire at the end of the year.
Critics say the bill’s long-term impact on the national debt could be staggering. The Congressional Budget Office estimates a $3.3 trillion increase in federal debt over the next decade under the proposed terms. Supporters argue the economic stimulus from the tax cuts will fuel growth, offsetting much of the borrowing.
Still, as the clock ticks toward July 4, much remains uncertain. By Wednesday night, pizzas and boxed dinners began to arrive at the Capitol, indicating a long night of negotiations ahead. While GOP leaders have signaled confidence, the final tally remains precarious. The vote may hinge not just on fiscal policy, but on political survival—on whether Republican lawmakers are willing to risk Trump’s wrath and face potential primary challenges in 2026.
What’s clear is that this legislation, if passed, will reshape the American economic landscape. It represents a defining test of Trump’s post-presidency influence over the Republican Party and a harbinger of the political and ideological battles to come.
GOP Rushes Tax
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