Senate Inches Forward on Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” After Democrats End Delay Tactics

The Senate took a major step forward this weekend toward debating President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated “Big, Beautiful Bill,” after Senate Democrats’ procedural roadblocks finally came to an end. However, despite progress, Senate Republicans still face significant internal divisions before a final vote can take place.

On Saturday, in a move designed to slow down momentum, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) invoked a seldom-used parliamentary tactic that forced Senate clerks to read the entire 940-page bill aloud on the Senate floor. The reading—lasting nearly 16 hours—stretched from Saturday into early Sunday morning and served as a dramatic delay effort by Democrats opposing the legislation.

Following the marathon reading session, Schumer took to social media, claiming the tactic was successful in making Republicans “squirm.” He also criticized the GOP lawmakers for failing to fully understand the legislation they were advancing. “I know damn well they haven’t read the bill,” Schumer remarked, drawing criticism from some observers who pointed out that Democrats themselves rarely read massive bills word for word.

Despite the spectacle, the delay had no long-term effect on the bill’s trajectory. With the reading now behind them, the Senate has moved into the formal debate phase, which allows for 20 hours of discussion—equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. Democratic senators are expected to use the full time to argue against the sweeping legislation, while Republican leaders may use less, hoping to speed up the process.

Nevertheless, even among Republicans, the bill does not enjoy universal support. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) remains committed to pushing the legislation through, a number of GOP senators have expressed concerns, particularly over changes to Medicaid and the bill’s overall cost.

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a vocal fiscal conservative, is one of the leading internal critics of the bill. Paul has repeatedly raised concerns about the bill’s long-term budgetary impact and is unlikely to support the final version unless major amendments are made. Likewise, Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has taken a hardline stance, announcing that he will not back the bill without revisions to its Medicaid funding formulas. Tillis, who recently revealed he will retire at the end of his current term, appears unmoved by political pressure or threats of a primary challenge.

Meanwhile, Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who supported the bill in the initial procedural vote, has also indicated she may withhold support from the final version unless adjustments are made to how the federal government reimburses states for Medicaid services. Specifically, Collins wants a re-evaluation of the Medicaid provider tax rate, which she argues could disproportionately hurt smaller states like hers.

Other senators, especially those aligned with the party’s fiscal conservative wing, have demanded changes to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), a key formula that determines how much federal funding each state receives for its Medicaid program. Negotiations around FMAP delayed a crucial vote on Saturday night, with Majority Leader Thune and Vice President JD Vance working behind the scenes to appease concerned lawmakers and keep the bill on track.

Trump has been vocal in his support for the legislation, describing it as a pivotal part of his post-2024 agenda. After the Senate cleared the hurdle of a four-hour vote to advance the bill for debate, the former president issued a statement praising its progress.

“This bill is the first step in correcting the disasters left behind by the last administration—open borders, endless wars, and reckless spending,” Trump said. “I’ve worked closely with our Republican leadership, and I’m confident this bill will help put America back on a path of strength, prosperity, and accountability.”

The procedural vote passed narrowly, 51 to 49, with Sens. Tillis and Paul breaking with their party to vote against it. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, leaving little room for further defections if the bill is to pass in its final form.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who had initially opposed the bill, ultimately changed his vote after last-minute negotiations. He characterized the legislation as a “starting point” toward broader reform, especially in tackling federal debt and restoring what he described as “fiscal sanity.”

“President Trump understands the challenges we face,” Johnson said. “This bill isn’t perfect, but it begins to address the core problems—and that’s a direction I can support.”

With the debate phase underway and internal negotiations ongoing, Senate Republicans hope to schedule a final vote by the end of the week. Yet with lingering dissent and potential amendments still in play, the fate of Trump’s massive legislative package remains uncertain.