WASHINGTON – A comprehensive tax and spending bill endorsed by former US President Donald Trump cleared its first procedural hurdle in the United States Senate on Friday, marking a significant step forward for what Republicans are calling the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The Senate voted 51–49 in favour of advancing the bill to the debate stage. The proposed legislation, spanning 940 pages, includes provisions for permanent tax cuts, increased military and border security spending, and a significant expansion of the federal debt ceiling.
Key Features of the Bill
According to Senate Republicans, the bill seeks to:
- Extend parts of the 2017 tax cuts permanently
- Eliminate federal taxes on tips and overtime income
- Increase standard tax deductions
- Allocate an additional $150 billion to defence spending
- Expand funding and operational capacity for border enforcement
To fund these measures, the bill proposes raising the US federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Independent fiscal analysts estimate the bill could add $4–5 trillion to the national debt over the next ten years.
Divisions Within Senate
The measure faced opposition from some Republican senators. Senator Rand Paul expressed concern over rising debt, while Senator Thom Tillis objected to proposed cuts in Medicaid. Senator Ron Johnson reversed his initial opposition after last-minute negotiations.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, sought to delay the vote by invoking a rule requiring the full text of the bill to be read aloud—a process expected to take more than 15 hours.
Reaction and Next Steps
The bill has also drawn criticism from prominent business leaders and economists. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, described the bill as “irresponsible,” warning it could damage innovation and long-term fiscal stability.
Senate debate on the bill is expected to continue through the weekend, with a final vote anticipated before July 4. If passed, the bill will proceed to the House of Representatives and then to President Trump for final approval.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.