Trump-Backed ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Clears Key House Committee, Faces Full Chamber Vote

President Donald Trump’s sweeping legislative package—branded by supporters as the “big, beautiful bill”—advanced late Wednesday through the powerful House Rules Committee, clearing the way for a full House vote as early as Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, as per Fox News.

The bill, a centerpiece of Trump’s post-presidency political agenda, passed the committee on an 8-4 party-line vote, with all Republicans present supporting the measure and all Democrats opposing. The committee began its final meeting at 1 a.m. Wednesday and adjourned just before 11 p.m., following a marathon session marked by partisan clashes and internal GOP negotiations.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, was the only lawmaker to miss the vote.

Democrats on the panel accused Republicans of rushing the bill through “in the dead of night,” claiming it would raise costs for working families while favoring the wealthy. They also attempted to stall progress by introducing dozens of amendments, prolonging debate across two days.

Republicans countered that the bill would support small businesses, farmers, and middle- and low-income Americans, while cutting back on federal waste and fraud. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has spearheaded the effort, made personal appearances during the early morning and again at sunrise to rally support.

In response to internal divisions, Johnson unveiled a key amendment around 9 p.m. Wednesday aimed at addressing outstanding concerns from both moderate and conservative Republicans.

The amendment would:

• Accelerate Medicaid work requirement implementation to December 2026, three years earlier than originally proposed.
• Provide increased federal funds to states that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
• Phase out green energy subsidies from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act by 2028, unless they show clear returns on investment.

Blue-state Republicans also secured a temporary increase in the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions—a top priority for districts with high property taxes.

Despite the committee approval, hurdles remain. Hardline conservatives, including Reps. Roy and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), had urged House leadership to delay the floor vote amid concerns about the bill’s scope and timeline.

The White House, however, threw its weight behind the legislation, issuing a policy statement urging immediate passage. Trump and Johnson met with skeptical GOP members at the White House earlier this week, resulting in what lawmakers described as “productive” talks that moved some holdouts closer to support.

Republicans are attempting to pass the bill using budget reconciliation, a legislative process that allows tax and spending measures to bypass Senate filibuster rules and pass with a simple majority. The measure covers a wide swath of Trump’s agenda—including tax cuts, immigration policy, energy reforms, defense spending, and debt reduction.

Speaker Johnson hopes to send the bill to the Senate before Memorial Day, with GOP leaders targeting July 4 for final passage through both chambers.