After a night of political wrangling, House Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill in the early hours of Thursday morning, overcoming a major hurdle following tense negotiations and deep divisions within their own ranks.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had spent much of Wednesday locked in talks with skeptical GOP lawmakers, many of whom objected to the Senate’s revisions to the bill—dubbed by Trump as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Concerns ranged from fears over soaring deficits to the political fallout of deep cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Despite mounting pressure, the House initially failed to pass a procedural rule vote late Wednesday that would have brought the bill to the floor. Five Republicans—Andrew Clyde (GA), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Thomas Massie (KY), Keith Self (TX), and Victoria Spartz (IN)—sided with Democrats, stalling the measure. With eight Republicans holding out, the vote was left open for hours.
Trump took to Truth Social, venting his frustration: “MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!” he posted shortly after midnight. Half an hour later, he added: “THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!”
Ultimately, the pressure campaign paid off. Just before 3:30 a.m., the House passed the rule amendment by a narrow 219-213 vote, with only Rep. Fitzpatrick breaking from party lines.
The legislation—already approved by the Senate on Tuesday with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance—includes Trump’s key second-term priorities: a permanent extension of his 2017 tax cuts, elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay, and a significant boost to immigration enforcement and border security. To partially offset the costs, the bill slashes Medicaid spending and nutrition assistance, and reduces green energy tax credits.
But the revised Senate version drew fire from fiscal conservatives for ballooning the national debt. A report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected the bill would add $3.4 trillion to the deficit—roughly $1 trillion more than the original House version passed in May. The CBO also warned that the Medicaid cuts could leave 12 million Americans uninsured by 2034.
The intraparty friction underscored the challenge Johnson faces in managing a narrow and ideologically divided Republican majority. Even with Trump’s direct involvement—including meetings with House Freedom Caucus members and moderate Republicans—securing unity proved elusive.
Still, the late-night procedural win paves the way for final debate and a floor vote on the bill, which could happen later today. Johnson remained optimistic, insisting the legislation would pass before Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline.
“We’re going to meet our July 4 deadline, which everybody made fun of me for saying,” Johnson said. “This is going to end well.”
Whether it does will depend on whether Republicans can hold together just long enough to get the bill across the finish line.
