The US House of Representatives has passed a contentious spending bill backed by President Trump, advancing his agenda despite concerns over fiscal discipline and opposition from Democrats.
Trump-Backed Spending Bill Passes US House Amid Controversy
Trump-Backed Spending Bill Passes US House Amid Controversy
The House of Representatives narrowly approves a multi-trillion dollar spending plan, marking a significant achievement for Trump and the GOP.
In a closely watched vote, Republicans in the US House of Representatives managed to narrowly pass a sprawling government spending bill on Tuesday, marking a substantial win for President Donald Trump and bolstering his legislative agenda. The final tally stood at 217-215, highlighting a critical early test for new House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had earlier postponed the vote due to uncertainty over support.
Although some Republican members voiced concerns about the bill's fiscal prudence—totaling approximately $4.5 trillion (£3.6 trillion) with significant tax cuts—party unity ultimately prevailed. The bill, aimed at trimming $2 trillion in spending over the next decade, includes over $100 billion earmarked for military funding and immigration enforcement, while extending tax breaks introduced during Trump's first term, set to expire at year-end.
Despite this partial inclusion of spending cuts, the bill faced unanimous opposition from Democrats, with only one Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, standing against it. He advocated for deeper reductions to federal expenditures. The voting process was further complicated by the absence of one Democrat, failing to sway the overall outcome.
The proposal will require reconciliation with a competing budget bill under deliberation in the US Senate. This means that even if the two chambers can agree on a framework, numerous details will still have to be finalized before it reaches Trump's desk for approval.
Initially, Speaker Johnson and senior Republican leaders, including Steve Scalise, spent extensive time garnering the necessary votes, even with personal outreach from Trump to potential dissenters. This effort bore fruit, as some representatives who were initially opposed ultimately supported the measure.
Following the vote, Speaker Johnson expressed optimism, stating, "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are going to deliver the American First agenda." Critics, particularly Democrats, condemned the budget as primarily benefiting wealthy individuals, potentially jeopardizing low-income families reliant on essential government programs like Medicaid.
The Senate is now under renewed pressure to act on the House's approved spending framework, particularly as it holds Trump's backing, despite its own recently introduced budget.
Although some Republican members voiced concerns about the bill's fiscal prudence—totaling approximately $4.5 trillion (£3.6 trillion) with significant tax cuts—party unity ultimately prevailed. The bill, aimed at trimming $2 trillion in spending over the next decade, includes over $100 billion earmarked for military funding and immigration enforcement, while extending tax breaks introduced during Trump's first term, set to expire at year-end.
Despite this partial inclusion of spending cuts, the bill faced unanimous opposition from Democrats, with only one Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, standing against it. He advocated for deeper reductions to federal expenditures. The voting process was further complicated by the absence of one Democrat, failing to sway the overall outcome.
The proposal will require reconciliation with a competing budget bill under deliberation in the US Senate. This means that even if the two chambers can agree on a framework, numerous details will still have to be finalized before it reaches Trump's desk for approval.
Initially, Speaker Johnson and senior Republican leaders, including Steve Scalise, spent extensive time garnering the necessary votes, even with personal outreach from Trump to potential dissenters. This effort bore fruit, as some representatives who were initially opposed ultimately supported the measure.
Following the vote, Speaker Johnson expressed optimism, stating, "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are going to deliver the American First agenda." Critics, particularly Democrats, condemned the budget as primarily benefiting wealthy individuals, potentially jeopardizing low-income families reliant on essential government programs like Medicaid.
The Senate is now under renewed pressure to act on the House's approved spending framework, particularly as it holds Trump's backing, despite its own recently introduced budget.
