House Passes Trump’s $4.5T Tax Bill, Sends It to His Desk for Signature/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Republicans narrowly passed Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax and spending bill, overcoming fierce Democratic resistance led by Hakeem Jeffries’ record-breaking speech. The measure extends major tax cuts but slashes Medicaid and green energy programs. It heads to Trump for his first major signature of his second term.
Quick Look
Trump’s Tax Cuts Bill: Quick Look
- House passes Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax and spending plan
- 218-214 vote, with two GOP defections and all Democrats opposed
- Extends 2017 tax cuts, introduces new breaks for workers
- Imposes $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food aid
- Adds $3.3 trillion to deficit, says Congressional Budget Office
- Hakeem Jeffries speaks for 8 hours, 44 minutes to protest
- Seen as first big legislative win of Trump’s second term
- Democrats warn cuts will devastate health care and safety nets
House Passes Trump’s Sweeping Tax and Spending Bill, Sending It to His Desk for Signature
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans delivered President Donald Trump a major legislative victory Thursday, giving final approval to his $4.5 trillion tax cuts and spending overhaul after an overnight push to secure the votes needed before his self-imposed July 4 deadline.
The House narrowly passed the massive package on a 218-214 vote, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition. The victory follows intense lobbying from GOP leaders and direct pressure from Trump, who worked through the night to sway holdouts. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, meanwhile, staged an 8-hour, 44-minute floor speech in a dramatic attempt to delay the vote.
“We have a big job to finish,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “With one big beautiful bill, we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”
Trump hailed the measure as a signature achievement of his second term. The sprawling, 800-page legislation combines long-standing Republican tax priorities with sweeping changes to federal safety net programs, national security, and immigration policy.
Bill’s Main Features: Tax Cuts and Spending Reductions
At the core of the legislation is an extension of $4.5 trillion in tax cuts first enacted during Trump’s 2017 presidency, which were set to expire without congressional action. The package also introduces new tax benefits, including allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and offering a $6,000 deduction for most older Americans earning under $75,000 a year.
The bill allocates $350 billion for defense spending, including Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system and efforts to expand immigration enforcement.
To help offset some of the cost, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, largely through new work requirements for certain adults, including some parents and older Americans. It also scales back green energy tax incentives from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the package will add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade and leave an estimated 11.8 million more Americans without health coverage.
“This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chair of the House Budget Committee.
Democrats United in Fierce Opposition
Democrats blasted the bill as a windfall for the wealthy at the expense of working families and vulnerable Americans. Jeffries, wielding his right to speak indefinitely as minority leader, launched his record-breaking floor speech early Thursday morning, reading letters from Americans fearful of losing health coverage or food benefits.
“I never thought I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” Jeffries declared. “It’s a crime scene going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”
He concluded, “We want no part of it.”
Narrow Margins, Political Risks
The legislation survived a tumultuous path through Congress, often advancing by razor-thin margins. The Senate passed the bill earlier this week, with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie vote. In the House, the slim Republican majority left little margin for error.
Despite deep reservations from moderates over steep cuts to social programs and from conservatives demanding even deeper spending reductions, Republican leaders framed the bill as politically crucial. Many lawmakers felt pressured to fall in line under Trump’s influence, wary of potential primary challenges fueled by his well-funded political machine.
As House floor action stalled overnight, Trump took to social media to demand action.
“What are the Republicans waiting for???” he posted. “What are you trying to prove???”
Johnson and his team leaned heavily on White House officials to win over undecided members, offering assurances that executive actions or targeted projects could address district-level concerns.
Lawmakers who defied Trump faced political consequences. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina both opposed the measure. Shortly afterward, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection.
Reversing Democratic Agendas
The legislation represents a major rollback of policies championed by Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. It chips away at the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and reverses many green energy incentives that were central to Biden’s climate agenda.
Democrats warned the cuts would devastate communities reliant on federal assistance. Jeffries and others argued that slashing Medicaid could result in preventable deaths, while reductions in food aid could “rip food from the mouths of hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors.”
Republicans counter that the bill will stave off future tax hikes and strengthen the economy. They maintain that tightening eligibility for benefits will focus resources on those truly in need and reduce waste and fraud.
The Tax Policy Center estimates the bill would provide an average tax cut of $150 for the lowest-income Americans, $1,750 for the middle tier, and $10,950 for the top 20%, compared to what they’d pay if the 2017 tax cuts expired.
The measure now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature, marking the first major legislative win of his second term and setting up a sharp contrast with Democrats heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
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