The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved President Donald Trump’s ambitious tax plan by a close 51-50 vote, with the tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance. The bill, which calls for social cuts and increases in military spending, now returns to the House of Representatives for a final vote.
During a visit to a new migrant detention center in Florida, Trump expressed optimism about the legislative text moving forward: “It’s a great bill. There’s something for everybody, and I think it’s going to do very well in the House. In fact, I think it will be easier than in the Senate,” he said.
What does the tax plan include?
Trump dubbed his tax plan as “the big, beautiful bill.”
This package codifies the tax cuts implemented in 2017 and provides for:
More funds for defense and immigration control
Cuts of nearly $1 billion in Medicaid and SNAP programs
Reduction in overall public spending
Elimination of regulatory measures, such as state limitations on artificial intelligence.
According to the Congressional Budget Office(CBO), this plan will increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next ten years.
This figure exceeded the 2.4 billion projected in the version approved in May by the Lower House.
Controversies and criticisms
The passage of Trump’s tax plan exposed divisions in the Republican Party, with three conservative senators voting against it over concerns about the deficit.
It also prompted public criticism from Elon Musk, who accused lawmakers of betraying their promise to cut spending.
In addition, moderate Republican senators expressed concern about the potential negative effects on their communities due to social cuts.
Trump downplayed the numbers on Medicaid affected, asserting that the changes will eliminate only “waste, fraud and abuse.”
He also stated, “Medicare and Medicaid we are going to save. Democrats, on the other hand, would destroy them because their numbers don’t work.”
Legislative record and next steps
During the vote, the Senate experienced a legislative marathon with 45 consecutive votes, the longest vote-a-rama in its history.
One of the most discussed amendments was the removal of the clause that would have prevented states from regulating artificial intelligence.
Creo que será más fácil que en el Senado
The tax plan must be reviewed again in the Lower House, where the Republican majority is expected to pass it before July 4, the date on which Trump wants to sign it into law.
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