The U.S. Senate engaged in an exhaustive overnight voting session, grappling with President Donald Trump’s expansive budget legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Spanning nearly 1,000 pages, the bill proposes significant increases in border security, defense, and energy funding, partially offset by reductions in healthcare and food assistance programs.
The "vote-a-rama" process, ongoing for over 22 hours, has seen senators debate and vote on numerous amendments, with the bill’s passage hanging in the balance as Republicans face internal divisions.
With a slim Senate majority, Republicans can afford only three defections to pass the legislation, potentially requiring Vice President JD Vance to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Senators Rand Paul and Thom Tillis have already opposed the bill, citing its $3.3 trillion addition to the $36 trillion national debt and steep Medicaid cuts.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 11.8 million Americans could lose health insurance by 2034 if the bill becomes law.
Fiscal conservatives, including Senators Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, and Mike Lee, demand revisions to lessen the deficit impact, while moderates like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski express unease over cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have criticized the bill’s reductions and employed procedural tactics to delay proceedings.
Amendments proposed by Democrats, such as one by Senator Ed Markey to protect rural hospitals, were rejected along party lines.
If the Senate approves the bill, it faces a contentious return to the House, where it passed by a single vote last week.
House Freedom Caucus members threaten to block the Senate’s version, citing its $650 billion deficit increase.
Despite the uncertainty, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remains optimistic, stating Trump expects to sign the bill by July 4.