In a remarkable turn of events, Speaker Mike Johnson achieved a significant triumph for President Donald Trump early Thursday morning. He successfully united a deeply divided House GOP to pass a crucial bill that many members were still adamantly attempting to amend. This decisive legislative action culminated in the passage of President Trump's comprehensive tax and spending cuts package, marking a stunning victory for both Johnson and Trump, especially after the bill seemed to be on the brink of failure just days prior.
“Sometimes it’s good to be underestimated, isn’t it?” remarked a sleep-deprived Johnson on the House floor after enduring multiple all-night negotiating sessions with members across his conference. Trump's involvement was pivotal in pushing the bill forward, as it includes many of his campaign promises, such as extending the 2017 tax breaks and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay. Furthermore, the bill allocates billions for border security, facilitating a significant crackdown on immigration.
Despite the House's accomplishment, uncertainty looms regarding how much of this version will survive the Senate GOP. Republican senators have indicated plans to introduce their own modifications. However, they face mounting pressure to expedite the process. Both Trump and Johnson have expressed a desire to have the bill signed into law by July 4, raising concerns that any changes could disrupt the delicate balance orchestrated by House GOP leaders to secure passage through their narrow majority.
Ultimately, Johnson's efforts resulted in only three GOP votes against the bill, with the final tally standing at 215 to 214. Republican Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted against it, while House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland voted present. Interestingly, one of the bill’s staunchest critics, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, cast a yes vote, highlighting the complex dynamics within the GOP.
GOP leaders have been challenged to navigate the competing demands of conservative hardliners and centrist members, a precarious balancing act given Johnson's slim majority. The legislative package includes measures that significantly cut into essential safety net programs like Medicaid and food stamps, while also making permanent the trillions of dollars of individual income tax breaks from the GOP’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
In a bid to gain support from GOP holdouts, House Republicans unveiled a series of changes to the bill on Wednesday evening. These adjustments included accelerating work requirements for Medicaid to the end of 2026, moving the timeline up from the start of 2029, and phasing out Biden-era energy tax credits sooner than initially planned.
Republican leaders proceeded with the vote on Trump’s agenda after the president made a personal appeal to key holdouts, urging them not to obstruct the tax and spending cuts package. Trump had gathered members from a crucial faction of the Republican Party at the White House during a critical moment for Speaker Johnson, as several conservatives were threatening to defy party leadership over desired spending cuts.
On Tuesday, Trump delivered a powerful, 90-minute address to House Republicans, blending strong encouragement with firm persuasion. This impassioned appeal brought Johnson and his leadership team closer to realizing the bill’s passage, according to several GOP lawmakers and senior aides. The legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” aims to fulfill a wide range of Trump's campaign promises.
As the final floor vote approached, House Republicans released a revised package of changes reflecting extensive negotiations to win over dissenting members. This package formalized a significant deal regarding the SALT cap, allowing individuals to deduct state and local income taxes up to $40,000 for certain income brackets. Initially proposed at $30,000, the cap was adjusted following pushback from key Republicans from New York, New Jersey, and California.
Just after midnight on Thursday, Speaker Johnson expressed confidence regarding the bill’s passage, despite the inherent challenges. “You never know ‘til the final vote tally, but I’m convinced we’re going to pass this bill tonight,” he stated. “This is a massive piece of legislation with lots of moving parts. So we’ll see what happens. But I think we’re going to get this job done and we’re going to do it by Memorial Day, which is what we predicted from the beginning.”
This story has been updated to reflect new developments. Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Manu Raju, Lauren Fox, and Tami Luhby.
