The US Senate has taken a key step toward advancing former President Donald Trump’s ambitious tax-cut and spending package, despite strong pushback from critics including billionaire Elon Musk, who labeled the plan “utterly insane and destructive.”
The Senate passed a crucial procedural vote late Saturday by a narrow margin of 51–49, allowing debate on the 940-page bill, which combines extensions of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts with new spending measures for border security, immigration, and the military.
The session saw hours of delay as three Republican senators—Thom Tillis, Ron Johnson, and Rand Paul—initially sided with Democrats in opposing the legislation. Meanwhile, Republican Senators Rick Scott, Mike Lee, and Cynthia Lummis negotiated with party leaders into the night, pushing for deeper spending cuts.
Eventually, Senator Johnson changed his stance, leaving Paul and Tillis as the only Republicans still voting against the bill. A senior White House official confirmed that Trump was closely following the vote from the Oval Office late into the night.
Elon Musk warned that the legislation could “destroy millions of jobs” and harm America’s strategic interests, accusing lawmakers of protecting outdated industries at the expense of future-focused innovation.
The proposed package aims to extend tax cuts introduced in Trump’s first term, lower other taxes, and increase federal spending, particularly on defense and border enforcement. However, nonpartisan budget analysts estimate the plan could add around $4 trillion to the already record-high US government debt, which stands at $36.2 trillion.
Democrats sharply criticized the bill, arguing it favors the wealthy while threatening funding for vital social programs that benefit lower-income Americans. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer demanded the entire text of the bill be read aloud before debate began, accusing Republicans of rushing through a “radical bill” without proper transparency.
“If Senate Republicans won’t tell the American people what’s in this bill, then Democrats will make sure it’s read word for word,” Schumer declared.
