House Passes ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ Sending It to President Trump

The House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly passed a comprehensive bill to extend tax cuts and reduce social safety net programs, delivering a significant legislative victory for President Donald Trump.

The bill is expected to be signed in a ceremony at the White House on Friday, July 4, at 9:00 AM.

The measure, which now heads to the President for his signature, passed with 218 “yes” votes to 214 “no” votes, largely along party lines.

U.S. House of Representatives PASSES GOP Tax & Spending Cuts Bill, 218-214.

Goes now to the president. pic.twitter.com/pKXURzh9xF

— CSPAN (@cspan) July 3, 2025

The legislation extends tax cuts originally enacted in 2017, which were set to expire at the end of the year, and introduces new tax breaks promised by President Trump during his campaign, including on tips and overtime pay. The total cost of these tax provisions is estimated at $4.5 trillion.
In addition to tax measures, the bill increases funding for defense and border security. To offset some of these costs, it cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, along with further reductions to food assistance for the poor and other government aid programs. It also phases out clean-energy tax credits previously passed under the Biden administration.

The vote marked the culmination of a chaotic, months-long effort by Republicans to overcome internal divisions and unite behind the President’s domestic agenda.

Speaker Mike Johnson worked to quell resistance within his own ranks, with only two Republicans, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, ultimately voting against the measure. Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, were uniformly opposed.

The bill’s passage represents a major achievement for congressional Republicans and President Trump, who had demanded its passage by the July 4 deadline. Many GOP lawmakers, despite expressed discomfort with certain provisions, ultimately coalesced behind the bill, citing concerns about potential tax increases and the political consequences of opposing the President.

However, the legislation is viewed as a significant political gamble for the Republican party ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Polls indicate the bill is largely unpopular, and Democrats have strongly condemned it, arguing it slashes critical government programs to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
During a lengthy House floor speech, Representative Jeffries assailed the measure, reading testimonials from Americans who rely on Medicaid and SNAP nutrition assistance, highlighting concerns that the cuts would disrupt their lives.

The legislative process was marked by deep ideological rifts within the Republican party, magnified by their slim majorities in both chambers. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill passed by a single vote, following protracted negotiations and parliamentary maneuvers. In the Senate, the bill passed 51-50 with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

The House faced procedural delays leading up to the final vote, as a handful of Republicans initially withheld their support. President Trump weighed in with social media posts, pressuring potential defectors. Ultimately, Speaker Johnson secured the necessary votes, demonstrating his ability to navigate internal party resistance with significant pressure from the President.
Representatives Massie, a fiscal conservative concerned about the deficit, and Fitzpatrick, who had voiced reservations about cuts to social safety net programs, were the lone Republican “no” votes. Despite earlier expressions of concern from other Republicans, including a letter signed by 12 GOP lawmakers, all other signatories ultimately voted in favor of the bill.