Senate Passes Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” After Record-Breaking 45 Votes and All-Night Marathon

After more than 24 hours of nonstop debate, the U.S. Senate passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax reform bill—dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” (OBBBA)—by the narrowest possible margin: 51–50. The tie was broken by Vice President JD Vance in a dramatic early morning vote on July 1.

The Senate’s approval came after an intense overnight “vote-a-rama,” a rapid-fire legislative session involving 45 consecutive amendment votes—a record in Senate history. The last-minute push was triggered by internal Republican disagreements over key provisions, with lawmakers racing to meet Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline to get the bill to his desk.

A Sleepless Night on Capitol Hill

The session tested the endurance of the chamber, where the average age of senators is over 65. Senators huddled in blankets, sipped coffee, scrolled on their phones, and grabbed fast food as they pushed through the night. Some napped on couches. Others, like Sen. Markwayne Mullin, filmed Capitol tours to kill time. Sen. Charles Grassley, 91, sat on the floor with his hands clasped, trying to stay awake.

“It might’ve been the most grueling 24 hours I’ve ever experienced in this building,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who was seen as the final swing vote. She ultimately backed the bill after a lengthy conversation with Senate Majority Whip John Thune.

Senators from both parties proposed a flurry of amendments—most of which failed along party lines. At 3:30 a.m., the first successful amendment passed: a GOP proposal from Sen. Joni Ernst to block unemployment benefits for individuals earning over $1 million annually. Other amendments addressed AI regulations and Medicaid eligibility, while Democrats introduced symbolic proposals to highlight policy differences.

Behind the Bill: Trump’s Second-Term Blueprint

The OBBBA lays the fiscal groundwork for President Trump’s second-term agenda, including:

• Extending his 2017 income and corporate tax cuts

• Boosting military and border security funding

• Reducing federal spending on programs like Medicaid

Critics warn the legislation could add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. Even some Republicans expressed concern about long-term debt and cuts to safety net programs. The bill previously passed the House in late May, but because of changes made in the Senate, it must now return to the House for final approval.

If the House votes to approve the revised version without changes, it will head to President Trump’s desk for signature—potentially before the July 4 holiday.

A Historic Vote Count and Final Showdown

The 45 votes required to pass OBBBA set a new record for the longest vote-a-rama in Senate history, surpassing the previous high of 44 votes in 2008. Only 6 of the 45 amendments were adopted. The final vote occurred after 7 a.m., when Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote following defections from three Republican senators: Susan Collins, Rand Paul, and Thom Tillis.

House Speaker Mike Johnson now has just days left to shepherd the bill through the House before July 4, the deadline Trump has publicly pushed for. If successful, it would mark a major legislative win and serve as a launchpad for Trump’s second-term agenda.

(Sources: WSJ, BBC, CNN, Washington Post)

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