Senate Republicans weigh major tax reforms as July 4 passage of Trump’s sweeping bill faces delay risks and party debate.

Senate Grapples with Bill Text and Party Debate

Senate Republicans are carefully reviewing the most controversial tax and spending provisions of President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” with the July 4 target date for final passage now at risk. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release its text of the legislation soon, featuring expansive and contentious measures on state and local tax reductions, spending cuts, and reforms to Medicare and Medicaid.

After the bill’s text is unveiled, senators and Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough will begin the process of removing provisions that violate Senate budget rules. This thorough review process is expected to delay the full Senate debate and the “vote-a-rama”—a period of hours-long voting on amendments—until the week of June 22. If the Senate advances the bill, the House will face a narrow window to approve the changes before July 4, or send the measure back to the Senate for further revision, making it likely the process could extend well beyond the holiday.

Thune Vows Extended Work to Deliver Bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has pledged to keep senators in Washington through weekends and the July 4 recess if needed to deliver the bill. “It is a huge priority, obviously, for the president. He campaigned on it. This is an agenda that we are all committed to, and we will roll into the 4th of July recess, if necessary, in order to get this on the president's desk,” Thune said. Despite skepticism from members like Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Thune expressed confidence that “It’ll get done.”

The bill’s sweeping reforms have drawn mixed reactions within the GOP. While some Republicans have raised concerns about the impact on the deficit, Thune emphasized the legislation’s blend of “pro-growth” tax, energy, and regulatory policies alongside “the largest spending reduction in history.” He highlighted anticipated cuts of between $1 trillion and $2 trillion, as well as reforms designed to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across federal programs.

“You get greater growth in the economy, more revenue here, spend less here, and pretty soon you can start seeing things balance out… But you have to start somewhere, and that's what this bill does,” Thune stated.

Although July 4 remains the stated goal, lawmakers acknowledge the real deadline is early August, when the Treasury Department warns the US will reach its debt ceiling. Raising the ceiling is a key component of the “big beautiful bill,” adding further urgency to the negotiations and debate still to come.