Senate faces public disruption and fierce debate on Trump’s bill, as House eyes Wednesday vote and lawmakers battle over deficit and Medicaid.

Senate Debate Interrupted as Deadline Nears

The high-stakes debate over President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” was briefly thrown into chaos Sunday when a protester disrupted the Senate session, shouting criticism from the galleries and prompting Capitol Police to intervene. Allen D. Rogers of Florida was arrested for unlawful conduct after refusing to heed officers’ orders, interrupting proceedings between speeches by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The disruption came as the Senate entered a marathon “vote-a-rama” session, the final hurdle before lawmakers record their votes on Trump’s ambitious legislative package. The bill—spanning 940 pages—covers a sweeping array of issues from tax policy and border security to defense and energy, reflecting the president’s push for a major legislative victory before the July 4 deadline.

Fierce Partisan Clashes Over Policy and Process

Debate on the Senate floor has been marked by sharp partisan divisions and procedural wrangling. Senate Democrats condemned the bill for its deep changes to Medicaid, green energy subsidies, and concerns over a ballooning federal deficit. “Republicans can use whatever budgetary gimmicks they want to try and make the math work on paper, but you can't paper over the real-life consequences of adding tens of trillions to the debt,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Republicans, meanwhile, praised the bill’s tax relief measures, emphasizing its importance in preserving Trump’s first-term tax cuts and preventing future tax hikes. “Only in Washington D.C. is the refusal to raise your taxes an increase in the deficit,” said Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo, defending the bill’s fiscal logic.

However, not all Republicans were on board. Senators Rand Paul and Thom Tillis broke ranks, criticizing the bill’s projected deficit increases and controversial changes to Medicaid. Paul, in a fiery speech, declared the measure would grow the deficit, while Tillis warned about the impact of Medicaid reforms on his constituents, calling for more time to understand the full consequences.

House Vote Looms as Final Changes Unfold

With the Senate’s vote-a-rama underway, the House of Representatives is preparing to take up the bill as soon as Wednesday. House GOP leaders, facing narrow margins, have scheduled a procedural rule vote for the morning, with a final vote expected by Wednesday evening or Thursday. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise urged party unity, warning that just four Republican defections could sink the bill, assuming Democrats remain united in opposition.

House Policy Chair Kevin Hern and Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith both touted the legislation’s tax relief provisions, arguing it would deliver on Trump’s promises to working families and seniors. “Failure is not an option. We must pass this bill to prevent the largest tax hike in history!” Rep. August Pfluger wrote, underscoring the stakes for the Republican agenda.

The House version of the bill previously passed by a single vote in late May, and both moderate and conservative Republicans are now scrutinizing changes made in the Senate, especially those affecting Medicaid and state cost-sharing under the Affordable Care Act. With the president pushing for a signing ceremony by Independence Day, last-minute negotiations and amendments could still alter the final package before it reaches his desk.

As the legislative clock ticks down, the combination of public protest, intense debate, and a tight partisan balance in both chambers underscores the high-stakes battle over the future of U.S. tax and spending policy. The coming days will determine whether Trump’s sweeping bill becomes law, reshaping the nation’s fiscal landscape ahead of the holiday deadline.