House vote on Trump’s $3.3T “Big Beautiful Bill” stalls as conservatives revolt, GOP leaders scramble for unity, and Democrats protest Medicaid cuts.

House Republican Mutiny Threatens Trump’s Agenda

Efforts to advance President Donald Trump’s sweeping $3.3 trillion “Big Beautiful Bill” temporarily collapsed in the House of Representatives Wednesday, as conservative dissent, procedural hurdles, and even weather delays stalled a key procedural vote. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had pledged to deliver the bill for Trump’s signature by July 4, but the afternoon’s planned votes were delayed repeatedly, paralyzing the House floor and exposing deep fractures within the Republican conference.

The bill—an 800-page legislative package—includes Trump’s priorities on taxes, immigration, energy, defense, and the national debt. But GOP leadership’s hopes for a routine rule vote to begin debate evaporated, with the vote held open for over four hours as party leaders attempted to corral a slim 220–212 majority. By early Thursday, five Republican lawmakers had voted against advancing the bill, while eight more had not cast their votes, leaving the outcome in limbo. House Republicans can afford just three defections to maintain a path to passage along party lines.

Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., one of the bill’s most vocal critics, told reporters a vote was still “possible,” but added that he had not yet received enough from the White House to offer his support. Other members, including Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, signaled ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration to address conservative concerns about the Senate’s version of the bill, which they argue waters down provisions related to green energy tax credits and adds to the federal deficit.

“We were not happy with what the Senate produced,” Roy explained. “We thought there was a path forward as of late last week, even though I had concerns in public about them. But then they jammed it through at the last minute in a way that, you know, we’re not overly excited about. So now we’re trying to understand what our options are from this point.”

Trump Calls Out GOP Holdouts as Leaders Press for Vote

President Trump took to Truth Social early Thursday to directly pressure Republican holdouts. “Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy,” Trump wrote, urging, “What are the Republicans waiting for? What are you trying to prove? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!” He called the procedural vote an “EASY YES” and lambasted continued refusals as “RIDICULOUS.”

Speaker Johnson, hoping to ride momentum from the bill’s earlier Senate passage, recalled lawmakers to Washington and insisted, “We’re going to get there tonight.” But with the party’s narrow margin, every vote is crucial, and even a handful of dissenters can derail Trump’s legislative agenda. Lawmakers, caught in the uncertainty, returned to their offices to await instructions as the vote remained unresolved into the night.

Some House members, such as Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., expressed uncertainty about their final stance, saying only, “Everybody’s just discussing what’s going on and trying to get to some [resolution].” Others declined to comment, highlighting the tense, behind-the-scenes negotiations dominating the Capitol.

Democrats Protest Medicaid Cuts—Tourists Disrupt Press Conference

As Republicans battled over the bill’s details, House Democrats, including the Democratic Doctors Caucus, staged press conferences throughout the Capitol to denounce the legislation. Donning white coats to emphasize their medical credentials, Democratic physicians attempted to warn the public about the harm projected Medicaid cuts could cause to hospitals and vulnerable patients. But their remarks were literally drowned out by crowds of Capitol tourists and a surge of sightseeing traffic, as police struggled to manage the congestion in Statuary Hall outside Speaker Johnson’s office.

Democrats have repeatedly attacked the bill for projected cuts to Medicaid, citing Congressional Budget Office estimates that at least 10 million Americans could lose health insurance by 2034. Trump and Republican leaders insist the bill only cuts “waste, fraud, and abuse” in the program, but Democratic lawmakers argue it will devastate access to care and hospital funding.

Uncertainty Looms Over Next Steps

With the rule vote still open after hours and both sides entrenched, the fate of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” hangs in the balance. Speaker Johnson and President Trump continue to apply pressure for a breakthrough, but intra-party rebellion and public protests signal that passage is far from assured. The outcome will shape the trajectory of U.S. tax, immigration, and health policy for years to come—and serves as a vivid illustration of the challenges in governing with narrow margins and fierce ideological divides.