Senate GOP OKs Trump Tax Cuts, Spending $7 Trillion Framework

5 Apr at 8:00 am

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Senate GOP OKs Trump Tax Cuts, Spending $7 Trillion Framework/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Senate Republicans passed a sweeping budget framework early Saturday, setting the stage for major tax cuts and spending reductions aligned with President Trump’s agenda. The plan includes $7 trillion in tax breaks and funding boosts for deportations and defense. Democrats warn it endangers safety net programs.

Senate Democrats, from left, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., gather to speak to reporters before the start of a voting marathon as Senate Republicans push the next step to pass President Donald Trump’s budget agenda, at the Capitol, in Washington, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate GOP Advances Trump Tax Cuts Plan – Quick Looks

Senate passes $7 trillion GOP tax and spending framework in 51-48 vote
Plan includes $5.5 trillion in tax breaks, plus $350 billion for military and immigration
Democrats oppose cuts to Medicaid, food aid, and Social Security protections
Collins and Paul break ranks, citing concerns over Medicaid and federal debt
Far-right and swing-state Republicans divided over spending cuts vs. political fallout
Trump-backed promises included, like no taxes on tips or overtime
Budget now heads to House, where Speaker Johnson eyes quick vote
GOP leadership downplays spending cuts for now, focusing on passing budget baseline

Committee chairman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Senate GOP OKs Trump Tax Cuts, Spending $7 Trillion Framework

Deep Look

In a dramatic overnight session, Senate Republicans approved a broad tax and spending framework early Saturday that lays the legislative groundwork for President Donald Trump’s ambitious second-term economic agenda. The 51-48 vote, cast largely along party lines, clears the path for GOP leaders to pursue permanent tax breaks and significant cuts to government programs despite sharp opposition from Democrats.

The plan, dubbed by Trump as his “big, beautiful bill,” includes over $5.5 trillion in tax breaks, expanded defense spending, and new funds for mass deportations, while proposing trillions in cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance.

“This is about delivering on what we promised,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., as the GOP prepared for what he called a historic vote-a-rama — an extended round of voting on amendments as Democrats tried to slow the process and spotlight the bill’s implications.

Divided GOP, Sharp Democratic Criticism

While most Republicans backed the bill, two key senators broke with their party:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) opposed it due to concerns over Medicaid cuts that would hurt vulnerable families and seniors.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) cited “fishy math” and raised alarms about adding to the national debt.

Other Republicans expressed concern but supported the plan after receiving assurances from Trump’s economic team that future spending cuts would help balance the impact of the tax breaks.

Democrats, meanwhile, blasted the bill as a handout to the wealthy, with Sen. Chuck Schumer slamming Trump’s economic policies and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. “Republicans could snuff this out tonight if they wanted,” Schumer said.

GOP Plan: Tax Cuts, Deportations, Defense Spending

The Senate framework locks in multiple Trump priorities, including:

$4.6 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years, excluding interest
$1.5 trillion more to support Trump campaign promises such as eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits
$175 billion for mass deportation efforts, addressing cash shortfalls in ICE operations
$175 billion for the Pentagon, part of Trump’s “peace through strength” doctrine

To win support from Republicans in high-tax states like New York and California, the framework also includes a potential increase to the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions.

Democrats Force Amendments, Most Rejected

Democrats tried to add amendments protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and federal workers’ bargaining rights. One proposal would have banned national security officials from using encrypted commercial messaging apps like Signal for military planning, a dig at recent controversies within Trump’s national security team.

All of these efforts were defeated — except a GOP-backed amendment aimed at protecting Medicare and Medicaid, signaling possible internal discomfort with going too far on cuts.

Despite the vote wins, the overnight session exposed growing tensions within the GOP, particularly between fiscal conservatives demanding deeper cuts and swing-state Republicans wary of political backlash.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) voiced unease about deficit growth, while also hinting that revenue offsets would be added later. “This vote isn’t taking place in a vacuum,” he said, referencing ongoing economic turbulence from Trump’s tariff policies.

Next Steps: Budget Heads to the House

Now, the framework heads to the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is expected to bring it to the floor next week. The House previously passed a budget with $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending reductions targeting programs like Medicaid and food stamps.

Key differences will need to be ironed out:

The Senate budget raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, compared to $4 trillion in the House plan.
The Senate assumes tax cuts don’t add to the deficit, using budget scoring methods rejected by many in the House.
Total cost of the tax package could hit $7 trillion, including interest.

The Joint Committee on Taxation projects the tax changes will add $5.5 trillion to the national debt, with much of the benefit skewed toward top earners. In fact, by 2027, 45% of the benefits are projected to go to households earning $450,000 or more, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

Political Implications Loom

The GOP is split between two imperatives: pleasing Trump’s base with tax cuts and fiscal restraint, and protecting lawmakers in competitive districts who may be vulnerable to backlash if services are slashed.

Republican leaders have urged members to pass the broad framework now and leave details of which cuts and tax changes to implement for later debate. But the strategy carries risks, especially as midterm elections approach and voters scrutinize whether the benefits truly trickle down.

While most households would see some tax savings, about 10% would see an increase, and low-income families may suffer more from lost services than they gain in tax relief.