US Senate Republicans face new roadblocks on Trump bill as deadline nears

 US Senate Republicans face new roadblocks on Trump bill as deadline nears

U.S. Senate Republicans are facing fresh hurdles as they try to push forward President Donald Trump's massive tax and spending bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Intended to extend Trump-era tax cuts, strengthen immigration enforcement, and ramp up military spending, the bill is a central piece of legislation for his second term. But just days before the July 4 deadline, new challenges have surfaced that could delay or derail the process entirely.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune had hoped to begin voting on the bill by Friday. However, those plans were blocked when the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, ruled that several provisions especially a proposed $250 billion cut to healthcare do not qualify under current budget rules. Additional proposals were also rejected, including ones aimed at easing firearm restrictions, giving tax breaks to religious schools, and changing how tax credits for low-income families are certified.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had previously warned that the House’s version of the bill could add about $3 trillion to the national debt, which currently stands at over $36 trillion. Trump remains hopeful and is staying in Washington for the weekend to help negotiate. But time is running short, and the path forward remains uncertain.

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Beyond procedural issues, internal divisions within the Republican Party are further complicating the passage of Trump’s sweeping legislation. With only a narrow majority in the Senate and the possibility of three Republican defections enough to sink the bill, leaders are struggling to keep their caucus united. One of the most divisive elements is a proposed Medicaid cut that could severely impact rural hospitals. Several Republican senators have voiced concern that the cuts could force healthcare facilities in their districts to shut down.

Behind the scenes, Republican lawmakers are trying to revise the language of the bill to meet Senate rules without losing the intended savings. But every tweak risks alienating different factions within the party. Meanwhile, Democrats are unified in their opposition, criticizing the bill for gutting social programslike food aid and healthcarein order to finance tax cuts that mostly benefit high earners and corporations.

Even if the Senate manages to pass a revised version, the legislation would still have to return to the House for final approval. Lawmakers also face an even more critical challenge later this summer: raising the federal debt ceiling to avoid a catastrophic default. For now, all eyes are on the Senate, where time is running out to deliver a major win for Trump’s agenda before Independence Day.