Described by critics as a “deal with the devil,” Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill inched closer to passage in the US House of Representatives after clearing a key procedural hurdle early Thursday. House Speaker Mike Johnson is determined to push the controversial legislation through, facing an outcry from Democrats and some Republicans over its provisions, especially those affecting healthcare and the federal deficit.
The essential “rule” vote, which had been stalled for hours by lawmakers objecting to its content and cost, finally passed near 4:00 AM in Washington D.C. This late-night approval was a hard-fought victory for leadership, paving the way for a potential final vote on the “one big beautiful bill act” later in the day.
President Donald Trump exerted immense pressure on Capitol Hill throughout Wednesday, holding numerous meetings and phone calls with skeptical Republican members. His public admonition on Truth Social warned holdouts that “MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!” underscoring his demand for the bill to be on his desk by Friday’s Independence Day holiday.
Despite the procedural victory, the bill, already approved by the Senate, faces a precarious path to final passage. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates it would add a staggering $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit through 2034. Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi, have fiercely condemned the bill for its tax cuts for billionaires, increased deportations, and proposed cuts to Medicaid.
