President to sign sweeping tax cuts and spending reductions into law on July 4
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congress has passed President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill after a narrow and heated vote, handing the president one of the most consequential legislative wins of his second term.
The House of Representatives approved the bill Thursday afternoon by a vote of 218 to 214, just days after the Senate passed it by a single vote. The legislation heads to Trump’s desk for signing during a scheduled Independence Day ceremony at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
Trump praised the bill shortly after the House vote, calling it “a big win for working Americans” and claiming it would “turn this country into a rocket ship.”
The bill locks in Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanently, eliminates taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits, and allocates $150 billion for border enforcement and an equal amount for military spending, including funding for the “gold dome” missile defense system.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill will add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade and could strip millions of Americans of health coverage and food assistance. The White House has rejected those projections.
GOP Rallies Behind Trump
House Speaker Mike Johnson emerged from the chamber beaming after the vote. “I believed in the people standing behind me,” Johnson told reporters. “It wasn’t easy, but we delivered.”
Behind the scenes, Republican leadership worked aggressively to flip holdout votes. Texas Rep. Chip Roy, who had earlier called the Senate version a “travesty,” reversed course and supported the final bill. “We got to a good result on key things,” Roy said. No changes were made to the Senate version before the House vote.
Only two Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania voted against the bill. After Johnson announced the passage, dozens of GOP lawmakers gathered on the House floor chanting “USA! USA!”
Democrats Push Back
Democrats fiercely opposed the bill. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delayed the vote with an eight-hour and 45-minute speech, the longest in chamber history.
Jeffries condemned the bill for cutting Medicaid, food aid, and green energy incentives while extending tax relief for the wealthy. “I will take my sweet time on behalf of the American people,” he said on the floor.
California’s Nancy Pelosi called the bill “a dangerous checklist of extreme Republican priorities.” North Carolina’s Deborah Ross added, “Shame on those who voted to hurt so many in the service of so few.”
What the Bill proposes
The 10-year cost of the legislation is estimated at $4.5 trillion. Key provisions include:
- Making 2017 tax cuts permanent
- Removing taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security
- $150 billion for border security
- $150 billion for military programs
- Cuts of $930 billion to Medicaid
- $488 billion reduction in clean energy tax breaks
- $287 billion in food benefit cuts
The bill faced sharp criticism over the imbalance between tax extensions and spending reductions. Bar chart data from the CBO shows the tax extensions as the largest driver of the bill’s cost.
Political Fallout
The legislation’s fate hung in limbo throughout Wednesday as factions within the Republican Party clashed over deficit concerns. Trump took to Truth Social after midnight, pressuring holdouts. “What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY,” he posted.
By early Thursday, GOP leaders pushed a procedural vote through around 3:00 a.m. EDT. The final vote came nearly 12 hours later at 2:30 p.m.
With both chambers now under Republican control, Trump has cleared the path to sign the legislation an effort he says cements his promise to “put Americans first.”
Outlook
The bill now enters its implementation phase, with federal agencies expected to begin adjusting budget allocations and social program guidelines in the coming weeks. Trump’s allies are framing the law as a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign platform, while critics warn of long-term economic and social impacts.
Trump is scheduled to sign the bill into law at a July 4 ceremony attended by Republican lawmakers and supporters on the White House lawn.
