Live updates: It's go time for Senate on Trump's megabill. Do they have the votes?
- - - Live updates: It's go time for Senate on Trump's megabill. Do they have the votes?
Savannah Kuchar, Bart Jansen, Phillip M. Bailey and James Powel, USA TODAY June 29, 2025 at 3:21 AM
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump's package of legislative priorities − stuffed with tax cuts, Medicaid reforms and border security funding − heads into the home stretch in the Senate amid uncertainty it can reach the finish line.
The Senate is set to launch an hours-long debate June 28 that should culminate with a vote in which Democrats are all expected to vote no. The question for Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, is whether enough Republicans will support their version to send it back to the House.
"We'll find out," Thune said of the final vote anticipated June 29.
If successful, the House would have to vote on the Senate changes in order to reach Trump's desk by his self-imposed deadline of July 4. The Senate has trimmed the House version from about 1,100 pages to 940 − and still faces votes on what are expected to be dozens of amendments.
The success of Trump's domestic agenda for tax cuts and border security hangs in the balance. Republican approval of the spending blueprint would allow a majority of the 100-member Senate to approve all of Trump's priorities included in it through legislation later in the year, rather than needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster for each measure.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 26: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks as he hosts a "One, Big, Beautiful" event in the East Room of the White House on June 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump held an event to urge the passage of the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," Trump's signature tax-and-spending agenda. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Here's what we know about the legislative package:
Sen. Susan Collins remains a wildcard
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she'll support Senate leadership bringing the mega bill to the floor and kicking off presumably hours of debate. But she cautioned reporters that she remains uncertain how she'll side when a final vote gets called.
"That does not, in any way, predict how I'm going to vote on the final passage," Collins told reporters while walking into the Capitol for the start of the day's events.
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) responds to questions from the media before a Senate GOP lunch as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 28, 2025.
Collins said her final vote ultimately will depend on what the bill looks like after lawmakers — including herself — introduce and potentially tack on further amendments.
"There's some very good changes that have been made in the latest version, but I want to see further changes," Collins said. - Savannah Kuchar
What is in the Senate bill?
The largest provisions in the legislation would extend expiring tax cuts and create a few new ones, and a dramatic increasing in spending on border security.
The heart of the legislation would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts which are set to expire at end of the year. Republicans have said defeat of the measure would lead to a $4 trillion tax hike over the next decade.
New tax deductions Trump campaigned on would apply to tips for employees such as waiters through 2028 and for overtime pay. The Senate capped the deduction at $25,000 and weakened the break for individuals with income above $150,000.
For border security, the bill would increase funding about $150 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill authorizes $45 billion for new detention centers as Trump ramps up arrests and $27 billion for a mass deportation campaign.
A crucial provision would increase the amount the country can borrow by $5 trillion. The country's debt is already approaching $37 trillion and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned the current limit on borrowing will be reached in August.
Sen. Rand Paul speaks during a Republican Party of Iowa event May 29, 2025 at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican holdout on the bill, said he wouldn't vote for the bill unless the debt limit gets a separate vote. But Republican leaders want to keep the unpopular vote within the overall package. −Bart Jansen
What's not in the Senate version of the bill?
Republican support in the Senate waned after Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled several significant provisions would have to be removed to avoid a filibuster.
U.S. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough poses in this undated photo.
Republicans removed provisions to curb environmental regulations; restrict federal judges' powers; bulk up immigration enforcement; and cut funding from a consumer protection agency.
MacDonough also ruled against provisions that aimed to reduce Medicaid spending on health care programs for undocumented immigrants. −Bart Jansen
What does Trump say about the Senate version of the bill?
The Trump administration "strongly supports" the Senate version of the bill, in a White House Office of Management and Budget statement June 28.
The statement isn't intended to favor the Senate version over the House version on any particular provision, but to signal Trump would sign it if approved by Congress. The two-page statement highlighted provisions for tax cuts, border security, energy and defense.
"President Trump is committed to keeping his promises, and failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal," the statement said. −Bart Jansen
Is there really a July 4 deadline?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters following a Senate Republican luncheon, in the U.S. Capitol on June 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Republican leaders are pushing to get what Trump calls his One Big Beautiful Bill Act through Congress and to his desk before the July 4 Independence Day holiday.
Trump has told congressional Republicans he's want this thing wrapped up by Independence Day.
But the due date is less procedural than it is political. The sooner the president can tout legislation that makes good on several of his 2024 campaign promises, including a tax limit on tips and overtime wages, plus extends his 2017 tax cuts for high-income earners, the better.
The more impending deadlines are sometime in August, when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the federal government is at risk of hitting its debt ceiling, and the end of the year, when Trump's first-term tax cuts are set to expire. The legislation up for a vote in the Senate currently contains a provision to raise the debt limit.− Savannah Kuchar
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate set to tackle Trump megabill but vote uncertain: Live updates
Source: AOL Politics
