House Republicans push for final vote on Trump's spending bill

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FILE-House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) (C) speaks during a news conference after the House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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House Republicans are racing toward a Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump's sweeping spending bill, after the legislation passed the Senate 51-50 on Tuesday, with Vice President JD Vance's tiebreaking vote.

Some Republicans fumed about the bill's cuts to Medicaid, while conservatives have criticized the legislation for moving away from their fiscal goals.

According to the Associated Press, the House passed its version of the legislation in May, amid concerns about spending cuts and the overall cost of the bill.

What’s in Trump’s tax bill?

Why you should care:

President Donald Trump’s spending bill would extend and make permanent various individual and business tax breaks that the GOP passed in Trump's first term in office, plus temporarily add new ones that Trump promised during the campaign, including allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and provide a new $6,000 deduction for most older adults. 

RELATED: ‘Big beautiful bill’ passes in Senate: What’s in it and what comes next

The Associated Press reported that the bill contains roughly $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years. This legislation also offers $350 billion for defense and Trump's immigration crackdown. Republicans partially pay for it all through less spending on Medicaid and food assistance. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this would add roughly $3.3 trillion in federal deficits over the coming decade.

Trump’s bill also includes new 80-hour-a-month work requirements for many adults receiving Medicaid and applies existing work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to more beneficiaries. According to the AP, states will shoulder more of the cost of food benefits, with the amount based on their payment error rates, which include underpayments and overpayments.

Trump imposed a July 4 deadline to have Congress pass his legislation, but some Republicans disapprove of the bill and could vote against it.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. announced that he would vote against the bill over the weekend. Trump later called for a primary challenger to Tillis and attacked him on social media, the Associated Press reported. Tillis announced he would not seek a third term in office. And House Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky opposes Trump’s bill.

Democrats argue health care and food aid are being taken away

The other side:

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described the spending bill in grim terms, saying that cuts in Medicaid spending would result in "Americans losing their lives because of their inability to access health care coverage." 

Jeffries said Republicans are "literally ripping the food out of the mouths of children, veterans and seniors," according to the Associated Press. 

"House Democrats are going to do everything we can for the next few hours, today, tomorrow, for the balance of this week and beyond to stop this bill from ever becoming law," Jeffries added.