The House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s ambitious tax and spending package by a razor-thin margin early Thursday, with a 215-214-1 vote, narrowly beating Speaker Mike Johnson’s Memorial Day target. Two Republicans, Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, broke ranks and voted alongside every Democrat. Meanwhile, Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland abstained by voting “present,” effectively enabling the measure to pass.
With House approval secured, the bill now heads to the Senate for its next hurdle.
“The media and the Democrats have consistently dismissed any possibility of House Republicans succeeding in our mission to enact President Trump’s America First agenda,” Johnson declared in a statement following the vote. “Once again, they have been proven wrong.
“Today, the House has passed generational, nation-shaping legislation that reduces spending, permanently lowers taxes for families and job creators, secures the border, unleashes American energy dominance, restores peace through strength, and makes government work more efficiently and effectively for all Americans.
“House Democrats voted against all of it — which clearly proves they want tax hikes on their constituents, open borders, and Medicaid for illegal immigrants.
“We look forward to the Senate’s timely consideration of this once-in-a-generation legislation and stand ready to continue our work together to deliver The One Big Beautiful Bill to the president’s desk.”
Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia added his own praise for the bill and urged quick Senate action.
“House Republicans have met the moment before us with passage of today’s historic legislation,” Allen said in a statement. “Through months of hard work, valuable input from all Members of our conference, and a clear mandate from 77 million Americans — the House has delivered the people’s agenda.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act codifies President Trump’s priorities by providing resources to secure the border, making a generational investment in America’s defense, bolstering domestic energy dominance, avoiding the largest tax hike in history, and protecting our most vulnerable communities.
“My colleagues in the Senate must move expeditiously in passing our bill and sending it to President Trump’s desk. The sooner this legislation is signed into law, the sooner our economy will experience record growth and American families, workers, and businesses will see the relief they have long deserved.”
Among the bill’s major provisions are the extension of Trump’s 2017 tax reforms, new deductions targeting service workers and borrowers, sharp reductions in climate-related subsidies, and an increase in military and immigration enforcement budgets. It also calls for stricter eligibility rules for low-income aid programs, including healthcare and food assistance.
The legislation also lifts the national debt ceiling by $3.8 trillion, setting a new cap of $36.2 trillion, as reported by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
In a dramatic overnight session, Republicans stayed on the House floor into the early hours to ensure the bill’s passage. With President Trump applying pressure behind the scenes and Johnson managing competing demands within the party, the GOP ultimately unified to push the bill through just before dawn.
Facing internal divisions and mounting urgency, many conservatives relented and supported the legislation after Trump personally lobbied them at a White House meeting. Debate began just before midnight, and by morning, the bill had passed by a single vote.
“To put it simply, this bill gets Americans back to winning again,” said Johnson.
The road to passage was marked by a whirlwind of legislative activity, with nonstop committee hearings and backroom negotiations. Republican lawmakers argued that the bill fulfills the mandate given to them by voters and will reignite economic momentum.
Trump personally intervened multiple times, meeting with GOP members in Congress and hosting discussions at the White House. Prior to the vote, his administration issued a blunt warning: “Failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal.”
A centerpiece of the package is the continuation of $4.5 trillion worth of tax cuts from Trump’s 2017 overhaul, now accompanied by several new tax breaks promised during his 2024 campaign, including exemptions for tipped wages, overtime, and auto loan interest.
To offset the resulting revenue losses, Republicans proposed curbing federal benefits such as Medicaid and food assistance by enforcing stricter work requirements. At the same time, the bill rolls back tax credits for clean energy initiatives enacted under President Biden.
The proposal also injects an additional $350 billion in federal spending, with $150 billion directed to military efforts — including Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” defense system — and the remainder earmarked for border enforcement and deportation initiatives.
The CBO projected that these changes would leave approximately 8.6 million people without healthcare and reduce monthly food aid for 3 million others. While the wealthiest Americans would see increased resources under the plan, the poorest households would experience a decline.
In a passionate critique, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries read aloud constituent letters highlighting the potential harm of the cuts. “This is one big ugly bill,” he said.
Lacking the votes to block the bill, Democrats instead launched a series of procedural maneuvers and floor speeches to voice their opposition. One of their first moves was a failed attempt to adjourn debate immediately after it resumed.
“In the dark of night they want to pass this GOP tax scam,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California.
Other Democrats denounced it with terms like “big, bad bill” and “big, broken promise.”
Johnson faced a delicate balancing act to secure passage, managing a fractured Republican caucus. Fiscal hawks demanded more dramatic spending reductions, while moderates hesitated over policy changes that might hurt their districts.
A major sticking point involved a concession to Republicans from high-tax states, who won an expansion of the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 for households earning up to $500,000 — a provision that sparked backlash from fiscal conservatives.
To win over skeptics, GOP leadership unveiled a late-night 42-page amendment containing various changes. These included moving up the timeline for implementing Medicaid work requirements to December 2026 and accelerating the phaseout of renewable energy credits.
They also added unexpected measures, like a $12 billion fund for the Department of Homeland Security to reimburse states that support federal deportation and border operations.
In a symbolic gesture, a proposed children’s savings program originally named “MAGA” accounts was renamed “Trump” accounts in honor of the president.
Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana dismissed Democratic warnings about the bill’s consequences. “We can unlock the ‘Golden Age’ of America,” she said, referencing Trump’s slogan.
By dawn, it appeared that most holdouts had come around. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina remarked that they “got some improvements.”
Still, two Republicans opposed the measure. Massie, a prominent critic of deficit spending, reiterated his concerns: “This bill is a debt bomb ticking,” he warned.
Rep. Harris chose not to oppose the bill outright but instead voted present, citing the need for more deliberation. A few other Republicans were absent.
A full breakdown of the bill’s financial impact is still underway.
The package includes provisions to raise the standard deduction to $32,000 for married couples, lift the child tax credit to $2,500, and introduce a $4,000 deduction for qualifying seniors to ease the tax burden on Social Security income.
To rein in federal spending, the legislation requires childless, able-bodied adults on Medicaid to engage in at least 80 hours per month of work or approved activities. Similar conditions would apply to those receiving food stamps through SNAP, extending to individuals as old as 64 and some parents of school-aged children.
Republican lawmakers said the changes aim to eliminate inefficiencies and misuse in federal assistance programs.
{Matzav.com}