Senate Narrowly Passes Trump’s Major Tax and Medicaid Bill After Intense Debate

WASHINGTON – After days of heated debate and last-minute negotiations, the Senate narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s major second-term policy bill late Monday night. The nearly 900-page measure passed with a 50–50 tie that required Vice President JD Vance to cast the deciding vote, handing Trump a significant legislative win but setting up an uncertain battle in the House.

Known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the legislation includes several key parts of Trump’s agenda. It delivers tax cuts for tipped workers and people earning overtime, makes the 2017 tax reductions permanent, and increases funding for immigration enforcement. However, it also includes deep cuts to Medicaid, the health insurance program that serves millions of low-income Americans.

The bill is estimated to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, raising serious concerns among both Democrats and Republicans. The legislation also requires Congress to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, setting up another fiscal showdown later this year.

The final vote followed four tense days in the Senate, where several Republican senators voiced opposition. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina strongly criticized the Medicaid cuts and announced he would not seek re-election after facing pressure from Trump and party leaders. “I could not support a bill that takes health care away from people in my state,” Tillis said.

Other Republicans argued that the bill’s spending was too high and would hurt future generations. Despite the disagreements, GOP leaders celebrated the passage as a historic step to boost the economy and fulfill campaign promises.

Democrats were unified in their opposition, calling the bill an unfair benefit for the wealthy. “This is a reckless and costly plan that leaves working families behind,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Democrats are preparing to use the issue in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Republicans say that voters will eventually see the benefits. “The water’s turbulent for a little while, but then it’ll just settle right out,” said Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia.

The legislation now returns to the House, where Speaker Elise Stefanik must reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions. With some Republicans still concerned about Medicaid cuts and the rising deficit, the bill’s final approval is not guaranteed. The next few weeks will be critical in deciding whether Trump can secure this major policy victory.