Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Passes Test Vote, Still Faces Roadblocks

Senate Republicans pushed President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” past a key procedural obstacle following a long night of high-stakes talks that at times cast doubt over the legislation’s future.

There was mounting uncertainty over whether Republicans would ultimately support the latest version of the sweeping measure, which was unveiled shortly before midnight early Saturday.

Senate Republicans rolled out on Friday their long-anticipated version of President Donald Trump’s sweeping legislative package—dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” even as the party is split on the matter.

Late Friday night, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., released the Senate’s final draft of the massive bill. The legislation represents weeks of behind-the-scenes work to revise and reshape the House’s version, incorporating input from ten different Senate committees. A procedural vote is now required to begin the clock toward final passage.

Though timing remains uncertain, GOP senators exited their Friday lunch expecting that the first vote could be scheduled for midday Saturday.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital that he had “strongly encouraged” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to put the bill on the floor for a Saturday vote.

“If you’re unhappy with that, you’re welcome to fill out a hurt feelings report, and we will review it carefully later,” Kennedy added. “But in the meantime, it’s time to start voting.”

Still, the GOP’s push to reshape parts of the House bill may jeopardize its chances of passage, complicating Thune’s plan to deliver the final legislation to Trump by the July 4 holiday.

Thune, however, has remained committed to the timetable.

When asked whether he had the votes, Thune replied, “we’ll find out tomorrow.”

But there are other obstacles.

Each element of the bill must conform to the Byrd Rule, a Senate budget rule that allows the majority party to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold if the bill directly impacts the federal budget. Violations of this rule forced Republican senators to make additional changes to provisions on Medicaid funding, food benefit cost-sharing, and more.

Negotiators from the Senate, House, and White House have continued to meet in an effort to resolve lingering disputes—including over changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps.

Although the controversial Medicaid provider tax language was retained, GOP leaders added a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund, hoping to win over skeptics concerned the change could cause hospital closures in rural areas.

On SALT, an agreement seemed to be taking shape. A source told Fox News that House Republicans and the White House had agreed to keep the $40,000 deduction cap temporarily, with a reduction back to $10,000 after five years.

But Senate Republicans have the final say, and there’s no guarantee of support. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who is helping to mediate the talks, expressed caution.

“I want to make sure we have enough that people can vote for than to vote against,” he said.

GOP leaders are hoping that the political pressure from the White House, and the desire to begin the July recess, will convince enough lawmakers to support the bill.

If the motion to proceed passes, requiring just a simple majority, the Senate will enter 20 hours of debate divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats.

Democrats are expected to use their full ten hours, while Republicans will likely use less time. That will be followed by the amendment phase, or “vote-a-rama,” when lawmakers can submit unlimited amendments, many of which are expected to be politically symbolic rather than substantive.

If the bill clears that hurdle, it will then return to the House for final approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will once again be tasked with managing a fractured GOP caucus, having barely passed the initial version last month by a single vote.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Senate Republicans to deliver the bill on time. Speaking during a closed-door GOP lunch, he emphasized the importance of passing the tax package swiftly, particularly in light of the president’s tariff policies.

“We need certainty,” Bessent said. “With so much uncertainty, and having the bill on the president’s desk by July 4 will give us great tax certainty, and I believe, accelerate the economy in the third quarter of the year.”