The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly passed a multi-trillion-dollar government spending bill, marking a major legislative victory for former President Donald Trump as he pushes forward with his 2025 agenda.
The bill passed in a tight 217-215 vote, serving as an early test for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had to delay the initial vote due to insufficient support. The legislation includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, significant allocations for immigration enforcement, and increased military funding. However, it also sparked divisions within the Republican Party over concerns about fiscal responsibility.
While all Democrats opposed the bill, only one Republican, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against it, arguing that the spending cuts were not deep enough. One Democrat was absent from the vote.
The bill proposes $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade to offset tax reductions and aims to extend Trump-era tax cuts set to expire by year-end. Despite these provisions, some Republicans initially resisted, demanding stronger fiscal discipline.
Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise worked behind the scenes to secure enough votes, with Trump himself reportedly making calls to hesitant lawmakers. “Trump helped us with a number of members,” Scalise said following the vote.
Three previously undecided Republicans—Tim Burchett, Victoria Spartz, and Warren Davidson—ultimately backed the bill, securing its passage. “We have a lot of hard work ahead, but we are going to deliver the America First agenda,” Johnson told reporters.
Democrats criticized the bill, arguing that it benefits the wealthy while potentially cutting funding for low-income families relying on Medicaid and federal assistance programs. Representative Brittany Petterson, currently on maternity leave, made a notable effort to attend the vote with her newborn.
The bill now faces a tough battle in the Senate, where lawmakers are considering their own spending plan. Negotiations over spending cuts, tax policies, and funding allocations will continue as both chambers work toward a final agreement to send to Trump for approval.
