Senate begins debate on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

After a dramatic procedural vote late Saturday, the bill went to the floor.

Last Updated: June 29, 2025, 9:32 PM EDT

The Senate on Sunday afternoon began debate on President Donald Trump's megabill for his second term priorities after a dramatic procedural vote late Saturday night.

There is up to 20 hours of debate but while Democrats will use their allotted 10 hours, Republicans are expected not to. After that, likely in the early hours of Monday, senators will begin offering amendments to the bill.

Overnight Sunday, the Senate parliamentarian ruled more provisions out of order with the reconciliation process Republicans are using to pass the bill with a simple majority. If it passes in the Senate, the bill goes back to the House to consider changes the Senate made to the House's version of the bill, which passed by one vote.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jun 27, 2025, 12:13 PM EDT

Trump doesn't provide clear answer about trade deals

Trump was asked about the latest status in trade deals with other countries.

He did not provide any specific details about any new agreements. As of Friday, the U.S. has announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom and claimed to have one with China, however Chinese officials have said those talks aren't finalized.

"We have a lot of good things going. Some will be disappointed because they are going to have to pay tariffs," Trump said on Friday.

He then asked reporters to turn the news conference back to the Supreme Court decisions.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington.
Shawn Thew/EPA/Shutterstock
Jun 26, 2025, 6:18 PM EDT

Trump tries to rally support around the 'Big, Beautiful' bill

Speaking at his One Big Beautiful Event rally, President Donald Trump touted key items in the legislation, including money for the border, no tax on tips as well as several key campaign promises he made on the trail.

“Almost every major promise made in the 2024 campaign already will have become a promise kept. That's very important,” Trump said.

The president urged Americans to contact their lawmakers to ensure his administration can secure the vote and acknowledged Speaker Mike Johnson's efforts.

“If you can call your senators, call your congressman, we have to get the vote,” Trump said. “You have been unbelievable Mr. Speaker, you have worked 'round the clock for months, for months.”

Trump said that he did not want any grandstanders getting in the way of the bill.

As the event wrapped, the president was asked if Congress would be able to deliver the piece of legislation to sign by Independence Day.

“We hope so,” Trump said.

“We're going to be celebrating very quickly, and we're going to be celebrating for a long time because we're turning our country around, we're getting our country back,” Trump closed, saying he's anticipating signing the bill next week.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle, Kelsey Walsh and Hannah Demissie

Jun 26, 2025, 5:45 PM EDT

Johnson, Jeffries discuss member security after Minnesota shootings

Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met on Thursday to discuss enhancing member security in the aftermath of several incidents where lawmakers say they have been threatened, targeted and even assaulted in recent weeks, months and years.

It also comes after a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were assassinated earlier this month by an alleged gunman who official said planned to target other lawmakers as well.

"We had a very productive meeting and recognize the urgency of acting quickly, decisively and in a bipartisan manner to ensure the safety and security of all Members and their families," Johnson and Jeffries said in a joint statement.

The leaders signal that the chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Administration will meet with stakeholders to “aggressively chart the path forward and implement change.”

Members are currently allowed to spend up to $10,000 from their member representational allowance on personal security.

-ABC News' John Parkinson

Jun 26, 2025, 1:40 PM EDT

Leavitt deflects questions about potential removal of Senate parliamentarian

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt deflected the question of whether Trump thinks the Senate parliamentarian should be removed after her rejection of the Medicaid provision under Trump's bill, deferring to the president himself.

"I haven't spoken to him about that and I'll let him speak on it," she said. "However, again, he knows this is part of the process and the inner workings of a Senate and he wants to see this bill done."

Leavitt added that Trump "remains very much engaged" in conversations on both the House and Senate side regarding the bill.

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