In a dramatic display of opposition, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is making a marathon stand against President Donald Trump's significant tax cut and spending bill. Jeffries took to the House floor just after 5 a.m. on Thursday, and as of now, he has been speaking for over five hours, effectively delaying the final vote on this crucial domestic policy bill that is central to Trump’s agenda for a second term.
Surrounded by stacks of binders at the podium, it is clear that Jeffries is not planning to conclude his remarks anytime soon. “I've been given 15 minutes each on a bill of such significant magnitude as it relates to the health, safety, and well-being of the American people. Because that debate was so limited, I feel the obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time to tell the stories, and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” Jeffries stated emphatically.
The magic minute speech is a procedural tactic that allows members of House leadership to speak indefinitely after the debate on a bill has concluded. For perspective, former House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, spoke for over eight hours in 2021 during the passage of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act.
Throughout his lengthy address, Jeffries has concentrated on the bill’s projected consequences for Medicaid, the federal program that primarily assists seniors and individuals with disabilities. He has shared powerful personal stories from those who will be adversely affected, stating, “People will die. Tens of thousands, perhaps year after year after year, as a result of the Republican assault on the healthcare of the American people.” He expressed his sadness, declaring, “I never thought I would be on the House floor saying this is a crime scene.”
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the cuts and changes to Medicaid proposed in the Senate could lead to approximately 11.8 million Americans losing their health insurance over the next decade. Jeffries has been vocally critical of the Trump-backed megabill's perceived attack on healthcare: “Every single House Democrat is fighting hard to protect your Medicaid,” he asserted. “We value you, and we're working hard to defend you.”
In contrast, Republicans have defended these changes as necessary reforms to entitlement programs, citing concerns over waste, fraud, and abuse. The Trump administration has also challenged the credibility of the Congressional Budget Office, suggesting bias in its analyses.
Jeffries did not limit his criticism to healthcare; he also addressed other critical aspects of the bill, including its potential effects on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and provisions regarding immigration. “You see, budgets are moral documents. In our view, Mr. Speaker, budgets should be designed to lift people up,” he emphasized. He further condemned the Republican budget as “reckless” and “immoral,” stating, “This reckless Republican budget that we are debating right now tears people down.”
Jeffries passionately called on his colleagues to vote against the bill, highlighting its detrimental impact on children, seniors, everyday Americans, and individuals with disabilities. “This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document. And that is why I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives with my colleagues in the House Democratic caucus to stand up and push back against it with everything we have.” His fervent remarks prompted an enthusiastic applause from the gathered House Democrats.
