House Republicans, after a night of closed-door negotiations, are preparing to vote on President Donald Trump’s sweeping $4.5 trillion tax cut and spending bill, with GOP leadership pressing to pass it by Friday. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the chamber will “plow through” to meet Trump’s Independence Day deadline.
But Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has mounted a dramatic stand against the legislation, holding the House floor for more than five hours Thursday morning. Using his privilege of unlimited debate, Jeffries read letters from Americans worried about cuts to health care and food assistance programs. “This is a crime scene,” he said, accusing the GOP of targeting vulnerable Americans.
The bill includes the extension of Trump-era tax cuts and new deductions for workers and seniors, while cutting $1.2 trillion from Medicaid and food stamp programs. It also allocates $350 billion for national security and Trump’s immigration agenda, including development of a “Golden Dome” defense system. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt and leave nearly 12 million more people uninsured.
With Democrats united in opposition, Republicans are under pressure to hold their slim House majority together. Trump has been urging immediate passage, warning holdouts of political consequences. As the debate intensifies, the vote is shaping up to be a defining moment of Trump’s second term and Republican control in Congress.
