Drama, Midnight Voting, and a Narrow Passage: President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Clears the House Following Full Legal Procedure

Drama, Midnight Voting, and a Narrow Passage: President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Clears the House Following Full Legal Procedure

May 22, 2025 | Washington — After dramatic late-night sessions and days of heated debate, President Donald Trump’s domestic policy-driven budget bill was narrowly approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

The bill passed by a razor-thin margin of 215 to 214 votes. Only two House Republicans — Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio — voted against it. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (Maryland) abstained.

The bill is seen as a cornerstone of President Trump’s second-term agenda. Just hours before the vote, Republican leaders unveiled an updated version aimed at appeasing dissenting GOP members.

In the early hours of the morning, the bill cleared a key procedural hurdle, paving the way for the final vote — the culmination of a week of internal Republican tension.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where some Republicans have already voiced opposition.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “We are hopeful the Senate will act quickly on what we believe is the most important legislation of this generation.” He added, “We are committed to getting it to the President’s desk before Independence Day (July 4), when we will celebrate the beginning of a new golden era for America.”

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt posted on social media, “This bill would not have passed without President Trump’s leadership.”

Titled "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the legislation reflects Trump administration priorities in tax policy, defense, and energy. Although it faced multiple roadblocks earlier this year, Republican leadership repeatedly assured members that concerns would be addressed down the line.

As Speaker Johnson’s Memorial Day deadline to pass the bill approached, opposition within the party began to mount, particularly over provisions related to Medicaid, state and local tax exemptions, and other key measures.

On Wednesday night, a 42-page Manager’s Amendment was released, containing changes designed to satisfy both fiscally conservative Freedom Caucus members and Republicans from blue states. Among the changes: a proposal to move up the implementation of work requirements for Medicaid from 2029 to 2026.

The bill also called for an accelerated rollback of renewable energy tax credits — with nuclear power plants being an exception, provided construction begins by 2028.

Speaker Johnson could only afford three 'no' votes, given the Republicans’ slim majority. Massie was the only Republican to oppose the bill during the procedural vote as well.

Massie remarked, “If something is truly beautiful, you don’t do it after midnight.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise warned before the vote, “If you vote ‘no,’ you are voting against America’s energy, border security, and the interests of middle-class families.”

Speaker Johnson declared, “This one big beautiful bill will put Americans back on the path to victory.”

He added, “This is a bill that — with such a slim majority — has the potential to create the most meaningful impact any party has had.”

Every House Democrat voted against the bill. Throughout the night, House Democrats attempted to delay the vote using procedural tactics. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it “an irresponsible, regressive, and reprehensible Republican tax scam.”

“This is one big, ugly bill that House Republicans are trying to shove down Americans’ throats in the dark,” said the New York Democrat.

He warned, “This could be the day that House Republicans lose control of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

On Wednesday, House conservatives met with President Trump and Speaker Johnson at the White House, after which Johnson held discussions with other party members about proposed amendments.

To push the bill forward, Trump pressured Republicans to support it and hinted at primary election challenges for those who didn’t.

The White House Office of Management and Budget stated Wednesday that the bill “reflects joint priorities of Congress and the administration” and warned that failure to pass it would be ‘the highest betrayal.’