Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump is urging for a “Big and beautiful” bill containing tax credits and spending cuts to reach his desk for signing by July 4th. He is advocating for the Senate to expedite the process.
Earlier this week, Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the White House, holding private discussions with senators to encourage swift action. However, there remains a considerable distance to cover with an over 1,000-page package.
“For me, the question is, how do you think the bill will fare in the Senate?” Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) inquired of Trump. “Do you foresee any issues?”
The next three weeks represent a critical period for the senators as they seek to imprint their influence on a substantial Republican package that passed the House of Representatives last month with a slim margin. Upon returning to Washington late Monday, they convened privately to revise the package, anticipating similarly narrow votes in the Senate.
“If you deliver a big, beautiful bill, it represents a historic chance to turn our country around,” Trump posted on social media. He urged the senators on Monday to “work as quickly as possible to deliver this bill to my desk by July 4th.”
Nevertheless, Trump’s affluent allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, have criticized the package and its proponents.
“This enormous, disgraceful, pork-laden congressional spending bill is absolutely appalling,” Musk tweeted on his platform X. “I’m embarrassed for those who voted in favor of it. You know it was a mistake. You know!”
Thune’s Challenge
Thune, much like House Speaker Mike Johnson, has little room for error given the tight 53-seat GOP majority in the Senate. Democrats are vehemently opposing the GOP’s strategy to cut Medicaid, food aid, and green energy funding in order to finance over $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, highlighting the fallout during town halls.
Senate majority leader John Thune (R-S.D.) walks out of the room after discussing President Donald Trump’s spending and tax bills on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington.
“I hope everyone can align on this, but individual members are assessing their positions,” Thune stated on Tuesday. “Ultimately, we must succeed. Failure is not an option.”
Johnson described Musk’s scathing critique of the bill as “very disappointing.”
“With all due respect,” Johnson remarked, noting he had spoken to Musk for more than 20 minutes.
At its core, the package aims to extend the tax cuts that were enacted in 2017 during Trump’s first term while introducing new ones that the president has campaigned for. There are no taxes included. The proposal also features a substantial allocation of $350 billion toward border security, deportation, and national security.
To compensate for the anticipated income loss from tax reductions and avoid exacerbating the country’s $36 trillion debt, Republicans plan to reduce federal spending, imposing work requirements on certain recipients of government assistance. This could potentially affect approximately 8.6 million individuals who may lose health care and nearly 4 million who could be deprived of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The package will also raise national debt limits by $4 trillion to accommodate increased borrowing for financing the bill.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer described Trump’s bill as “deeply flawed at its core.”
Schumer stated on Tuesday that senators should heed Musk’s warnings. “Beyond the smoke and mirrors lies a harsh reality: excessive tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy at the expense of millions of Americans losing access to healthcare,” the New York Senator said.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is anticipated to swiftly provide a thorough analysis of the bill’s implications for government financial health, but Republicans are prepared to contest any unfavorable assessments from budget overseers.
GOP Dissenters
On Tuesday, Trump escalated his tactics, targeting Republican holdouts.
The president is focused on Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, a deficit hawk with libertarian leanings who has built his career opposing government spending. Paul advocates for a $4 trillion increase to match the package’s proposed debt limit.
“Rand doesn’t support everything, but he lacks practical solutions. His ideas are downright unrealistic (loser!),” Trump tweeted.
As Senate Republicans work to advance President Donald Trump’s spending and tax bills, Sen. Rand Paul, who opposes the settlement package due to increased debt restrictions, will hold a television news interview at Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Paul appeared hesitant. “I supported the president and still do, but I cannot forsake the principles I stand for and were the basis of my election,” the senator stated.
The July 4th deadline is not just ambitious for the president; it’s crucial for Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. He warned the council that if the $36 trillion debt ceiling is breached by mid-July or early August, there won’t be enough funds to cover government obligations. Besant is also conferring with senators and GOP leaders in private discussions.
In order to make most tax cuts permanent, there’s a push for a business tax credit to be enacted—a key Senate priority. Senators contemplate refining some of Trump’s suggested new tax credits related to loans and overtime pay, which some senators find less favorable.
There is also ongoing dialogue regarding modifying the $40,000 cap proposed by the House for the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT. This aspect holds significance for lawmakers from New York, California, and other states, although it does not garner equal concern among GOP senators.
“We’re actively engaging in discussions,” remarked another prominent voice, Senator Tom Tillis (R-N.C.).
Sen. R-Maine Sen. Susan Collins asks Secretary of Education Linda McMahon during the Senate Appropriations hearing at Capitol Hill, Washington on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demarie Nikinson)
A group of senators, including Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, have expressed concern about Medicaid changes that might lead to individuals losing health coverage.
The proposed out-of-pocket expenses of up to $35 for Medicaid services, part of the House package, and the elimination of the provider tax—a critical funding source for rural hospitals—have also raised alarms.
“The most effective way to avoid accusations of slashing Medicaid is to not cut it at all,” Collins emphasized, noting she is reviewing the details.
___ Associated Press journalists Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown, Joey Cappelletti, Michelle L. Price, Josh Boak, and Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.
Source: apnews.com