The U.S. House of Representatives voted 217-215 Tuesday night to pass a comprehensive budget resolution that includes over $4 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade.
The vote was nearly as close as Republican majorities allowed. One Republican representative joined all Democrats in the chamber in voting against the bill. All other Republicans voted to pass the measure. One Democratic representative did not vote.
House passage sets up a weeks-long process of ironing out details and merging the legislation with a Senate version. Only if the bill passes the Senate would the budget be submitted to President Trump for signature into law.
Tuesday's vote was a crucial moment for Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Internal divisions among Republicans have surfaced, with some members expressing concern over the specifics of spending cuts and their potential impact on social programs like Medicaid.
"This resolution is merely the starting point for the process," Speaker Johnson said during a press briefing on Capitol Hill. "There's nothing specific about Medicaid in the resolution. The legislation comes later. We believe we'll have the votes. I've got a handful of people to talk to about various issues tonight."
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Despite Republican control of both the House and Senate, passing significant legislation remains challenging. Fiscal conservatives argue that any tax cuts must be balanced by corresponding cuts in other areas, while more moderate Republicans are cautious about potential cuts to Medicaid, responding to constituents' concerns.
Democrats universally opposed the budget resolution. In response to the vote, they have organized a protest outside the U.S. Capitol.
The dynamics in Congress are further complicated by an impending government funding deadline, set for the middle of next month. Observers are anticipating whether bipartisan cooperation will emerge to prevent a government shutdown, especially given the contentious atmosphere surrounding the budget resolution.
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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