Senate passes Trump’s mega bill following overnight marathon

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — After a marathon overnight session that stretched into Tuesday morning, Senate Republicans narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

The vote ended in a 50-50 split, and Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to secure its passage.

“Massive tax cuts, especially no tax on tips and overtime,” Vance said in a social media post following the final vote. “Most importantly, big money for border security. This is a big win for the American people.”

The so-called vote-a-rama lasted more than 20 hours on the Senate floor, with lawmakers voting on amendments to tax breaks and spending cuts, a delay tactic by Senate Democrats. However, some of those votes will ultimately impact how Republicans vote on the larger bill.

House GOP critical of Senate’s version of ‘big, beautiful bill’

Even before the bill reaches the House, signs of discontent have emerged.

A moderate House Republican, speaking anonymously to NewsNation partner The Hill, said that “everyone is complaining,” and “no one is happy with the Senate version.”

The bill will likely face hurdles in the House from Republicans still uneasy about the Senate’s final changes.

Some GOP lawmakers remain skeptical, particularly over spending and healthcare provisions. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have both raised concerns about potential health care cuts.

While Murkowski ultimately voted in favor of the bill, she called her decision “agonizing.”

“We do not have a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination,” she told NewsNation outside the Senate chamber following the final vote. “My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet.”

Meanwhile, Collins defended her vote against the bill, but said she supports extending tax relief.

“I strongly support extending the tax relief for families and small businesses,” said on social media following the final vote. “My vote against this bill stems primarily from the harmful impact it will have on Medicaid, affecting low-income families and rural health care providers like our hospitals and nursing homes.”

Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., voted against advancing the bill over the weekend. Paul has raised concerns about raising the debt ceiling, and Tillis has criticized the Medicaid changes.

Some Republicans have also demanded steeper cuts. The package, centered on tax breaks like “no tax on tips” and overtime exemptions, has divided the chamber.

“We’ve been working on this for a while. This is a lot of what President Trump’s agenda was: The no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, those tax cuts, and delivering on those promises is very important,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. “The stakes were high, and we intend to deliver.”

Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, told “Morning in America” that the legislation would burden future generations with debt.

“Does the Senate have no conscience?” he asked. “Are we going to put all of this spending on our children and grandchildren in terms of the debt? No, I’m not pleased.”

Elon Musk blasts debt ceiling increase

Billionaire Elon Musk has criticized the plan for raising the debt ceiling.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” Musk wrote on his social platform X.

Trump fired back, bringing up government contracts with Musk’s companies and suggesting,
“Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”