Live: Senate begins voting at 9 a.m. on Trump bill of tax cuts, Medicaid
WASHINGTON – The Senate begins voting at 9 a.m. on President Donald Trump’s sweeping bill on tax cuts, Medicaid and border security, after a marathon weekend of caustic debate and political maneuvering, but the result isn’t known for certain.
The finish line will come after a whirlwind of votes nicknamed a “vote-a-rama” on what are expected to be dozens of amendments, which could take hours.
The outcome is slightly uncertain because Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority, face united Democratic opposition − and the defection of at least two of their own members.
More: Senators to begin morning vote on Trump’s major tax, Medicaid, border bill
If the Senate approves the bill, it heads back to the House, where votes are scheduled to begin 9 a.m. on July 2.
Sens. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, and Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, voted against even debating the bill. A third GOP opponent would force Vice President JD Vance to break the tie. A fourth could kill the bill.
More: US stock futures higher ahead of Senate vote on Trump bill
Trump hailed the vote to begin debate a “GREAT VICTORY” on social media and said the legislative package would spur economic growth. He threatened to find a primary opponent to challenge Tillis next year and welcomed the senator’s decision June 29 not to seek re-election.
Senate leaders have negotiated to calm concerns about issues such as Medicaid cuts and whether overall government spending is reduced enough. The bill is projected to add $3.3 trillion to the country’s debt over the next decade, which is $800 billion more than the House version, according to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimate.
Here is what we know about the debate:
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington D.C., on June 27, 2025.
Republicans, Democrats disagree over how many trillions bill costs
One of the first votes will determine the cost – at least for the legislative debate – of a centerpiece of the legislation: an extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
Senators are divided over how to count the projected $4 trillion cost of extending the cuts, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
More: Zohran Mamdani knocks Donald Trump criticism, denies accusation he’s a communist
The U.S. Capitol is seen on June 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans worked overnight and read a new version of the $3.5 trillion tax GOP bill as they approach President Donald Trump’s July 4 deadline.
Republicans ignored that cost by arguing nobody expects the tax cuts to expire at the end of the year as scheduled. They contend the overall bill will reduce the federal debt $500 billion through economic growth.
Democrats challenged that interpretation, calling it “fake math.” But Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber so they are expected to win the vote and the argument.
–Bart Jansen
Tillis won’t seek reelection after opposing Trump bill
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, speaks to reporters after walking off the Senate floor at the US Capitol Hill on June 29, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Tillis announced June 29 he will not seek reelection in 2026, after Trump threatened to find a Republican primary opponent against him in North Carolina for opposing his legislative package.
“As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” Tillis said, adding that retiring in a divided time for the nation was “not a hard choice.”
Trump welcomed the decision.
“Great News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection,” Trump said in a social media post.
–Bart Jansen
What’s in the bill?
Besides extending the 2017 tax cuts, Trump campaigned on provisions in the legislation to end taxes on tips for employees such as waiters through 2028 and for overtime pay. The Senate capped the deduction at $25,000 and weakened the break for individuals with income above $150,000.
For border security, the bill would increase funding about $150 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill authorizes $45 billion for new detention centers as Trump ramps up arrests and $27 billion for a mass deportation campaign.
A crucial provision would increase the amount the country can borrow by $5 trillion. The country’s debt is already approaching $37 trillion and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned the current limit on borrowing will be reached in August.
–Bart Jansen
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live: Senate heads to final vote on Trump bill of tax cuts, Medicaid