WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s tax, spending and policy bill remains stuck in limbo heading into a fourth day of Senate debate – including a couple of all-nighters – as Republicans scramble to find the votes and meet a self-imposed July 4 deadline to turn the controversial measure into law.
Vice President JD Vance arrived at the U.S. Capitol shortly after sunrise on July 1, as senators approached nearly 24 hours of consecutive floor debate on a series of amendments to legislation that includes provisions on Medicaid reform, increased border security funding and limits to taxes on tips and overtime wages. The outcome in Congress is expected to be either a defining legislative win for Trump or a major setback early in his second term.
Asked if Senate Republicans would reach a final vote on Tuesday, Vance told reporters, “We’re going to find out.”
More: Medicaid cuts, no taxes on tips and overtime: What’s in the Trump-backed Senate megabill?
There are at least two Republican senators out of 53 who are expected to vote no on the legislation’s final passage. With no Democrats expected to offer support, Majority Leader John Thune can only afford one more detractor. In that event of a 50-50 split, Vance will offer the tie-breaking vote.
Despite working through the weekend, senators continued to hash out disputes on and off the floor of the Senate throughout the night June 30 and into the morning of July 1. Thune, R-South Dakota, has told reporters in the Capitol Republicans are “close” to nailing down a deal.
If and when the Senate passes Trump’s mega bill, it must then be reconciled in the House, where an original version passed by the smallest of margins in May. Votes in the House are tentatively planned for July 2, pending the outcome in the Senate.
Trump says he’ll ‘have to take a look’ at deporting Musk as feud reignites
President Donald Trump said he would look at having Elon Musk deported to his native South Africa as their rift reignited and reached new heights amid the billionaire tech entrepreneur’s new wave of criticism over Trump’s tax and budget bill.
Trump made the threat while speaking to reporters on July 1, hours after the president in an early morning post on Truth Social said he might order the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk previously led to review the billions in contracts that his companies receive.
“We’ll have to take a look,” Trump said when asked whether he will deport Musk. “We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies.”
Trump’s attacks came after Musk, the world’s richest man, resumed his criticism of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” in a flurry of X posts on Monday over the bill’s projections to significantly raise the national debt. It included a warning from Musk that he would boost midterm primary challenges to defeat Republican lawmakers who vote for the legislation. – Joey Garrison
Trump threatens to unleash DOGE on Musk’s companies
President Trump said he might order the Department of Government Efficiency that Elon Musk previously led to review the government subsidies that go to Musk’s companies as their rift resurfaced while the Senate took up Trump’s tax and budget bill.
Making the threat personal, Trump said the billionaire tech mogul would probably have to return to his native South Africa without the government’s financial assistance.
Trump’s attack in a 12:34 a.m. ET July 1 post on Truth Social came after Musk, the world’s richest man, resumed his criticism of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” in a flurry of X posts on Monday. It included a warning from Musk that he would boost primary challenges to defeat Republican lawmakers who vote for the legislation.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE,” Trump said. “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has pointed to the bill’s projections to raise the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next decade as the reason for his hostility. But Trump has claimed Musk only opposes the bill because the legislation would end a program under former President Joe Biden that offers consumer tax credit for buyers of electric vehicles.
Musk’s various companies have benefited from billions of dollars in U.S. government contracts over the past two decades, including SpaceX through its relationships with the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
In all, Musk and his businesses have received at least $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits, often at critical moments, a Washington Post analysis found. – Joey Garrison
Senate nears a full day of debate, breaks their own record
Senators have carried on debate over amendments to the sweeping legislation for almost 24 hours now.
Throughout June 30 and into the morning of July 1, lawmakers have considered and voted on 45 amendments – a record number in what is known in Washington as a vote-a-rama.
The previous record for this marathon-style series of votes was set in 2008 at 44 amendments. – Savannah Kuchar
Has the ‘big, beautiful bill’ passed yet?
Not yet.
Despite working through the weekend, Senate Republicans continue wading through disputes and sticking points, including over proposed Medicaid reforms.
At least two Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, are expected to vote no.
Majority Leader Thune met with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, earlier this morning, as she continues to be a key swing vote in the process. – Savannah Kuchar
Who is the Senate parliamentarian?
Republicans have called for Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough to be fired after she ruled against several key Medicaid provisions in Trump’s sweeping tax bill.
MacDonough on June 26 ruled against the inclusion of provisions that the GOP wanted to put in Trump’s sweeping tax bill aimed at reducing spending on Medicaid by requiring work from able-bodied adults and denying access to non-citizens – which didn’t go over well with fiscal hawks.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, told reporters the GOP had no plans to overrule its parliamentarian, let alone fire her.
MacDonough is the first female parliamentarian of the Senate. When Congress aims to pass budget reconciliation bills, such as the one being negotiated in the Senate, the parliamentarian can strike out any provisions that are extraneous and non-budgetary in nature under a process known as “Byrd Bath,” named after the late-Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia. – Sudiksha Kochi
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump tax bill stuck in Senate after all-night votes: Live updates
