A sprawling budget bill in the U.S. Senate is on the brink of passing, but it could jeopardize health insurance for nearly 12 million Americans, according to fresh estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The non-partisan agency's assessment raises alarm as Republicans push for the swift passage of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aiming for a self-imposed deadline of July 4.
Late Saturday, the spending plan secured a preliminary 51-49 vote in the Senate after significant lobbying by party leaders to persuade hesitant senators. Among critics of the bill is North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who announced he would not seek reelection following his vote against it. Both Democrats and some Republicans have voiced strong opposition due to the bill's projected $1 trillion cuts to healthcare.
As Senate discussions unfolded on Sunday, the bill's future remained uncertain, with Republicans holding a slim majority of 53 seats. With Vice President JD Vance wielding the tie-breaking vote, the party can only afford to lose three votes. The Democrats, seeking to delay the vote, capitalized on Senate rules, triggering a lengthy 16-hour reading of the nearly 1,000-page legislation.
Should the Senate approve the bill, it would still require final approval from the House of Representatives before reaching the president's desk. The White House framed the passage as crucial, warning that failure would be seen as "the ultimate betrayal." Trump touted the Senate's advancement of the bill as a "great victory," amidst outcry over the potential cuts to Medicaid—a program critical for millions of vulnerable Americans.
Senator Mark Warner articulated the fears, asserting that the bill primarily serves as a tool for wealthier tax cuts at the expense of essential healthcare funding. Although more than 80% of Americans could see tax reductions under the proposal, wealthier individuals would reap the lion's share of these benefits.
Replicating previous discussions surrounding the bill, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin defended the legislation's intent to eliminate waste and improve accountability, rejecting the notion of enabling dependency through welfare programs. "We want to give them an opportunity," he argued.
Key components of the spending bill include tax deductions on Social Security benefits, the elimination of taxes on overtime work and tips, and proposals imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients. Some amendments aimed to placate concerns from senators representing rural areas, with a notable boost to the rural hospital relief fund.
In addition to the significant healthcare implications, the bill imposes stricter regulations on the U.S. food stamps program, requiring most adults with older children to provide proof of employment to qualify for benefits. Overall, the proposed legislation presents a complex and contentious mix of tax cuts, funding changes, and far-reaching implications for Americans' health coverage.
