Senate Passes GOP Megabill After Narrow 51-49 Medicaid Deal

Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune and Vice President Vance, secured a major legislative win for President Trump by passing the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act after intense negotiations, including a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Vance. The bill includes significant cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, which raised concerns among some senators like Lisa Murkowski, prompting reworked provisions to soften the impact on states such as Alaska and Hawaii. Negotiators faced challenges with the Senate parliamentarian over compliance with the Byrd Rule, leading to broader application of some waivers. A late Saturday deal with conservative senators, including Ron Johnson and Rick Scott, secured votes by agreeing to larger Medicaid cuts, projected to reduce spending by $930 billion over a decade, and ending federal healthcare funding for illegal immigrants. The bill also boosts spending on border security, immigration enforcement, and the military while cutting various taxes, though some conservatives pushed for even deeper Medicaid reductions targeting able-bodied adults in Medicaid expansion states. Despite concerns over Medicaid, food assistance, and gun control provisions, Senate leaders expressed cautious optimism about the bill’s passage and its potential to advance President Trump's legislative agenda.