US House passes Trump policy bill, which will head to White House for president to sign
Vote of 218-214 follows late-night session which saw Republican representatives opposed to Medicaid cuts and increased deficit give way
The US House of Representatives passed a massive tax-and-spending bill on Thursday that President Donald Trump has sought since returning to the White House, an initiative that fundamentally revamps government spending and jeopardises dozens of planned clean energy projects with ties to China.
Passing 218 to 214, the sprawling One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which would lock in Trump’s priorities on border and defence financing, and make permanent tax cuts that Congress passed at Trump’s behest during his first term in 2017 – is the most significant legislative win of his second term so far.
With the House vote, the legislation will head to Trump’s desk on Friday, the US national holiday of Independence Day, with a signing ceremony scheduled for the afternoon.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Trump said he would sign the bill with military planes – including B2 stealth bombers – flying overhead.
“We’ll be signing with those beautiful planes flying right over our heads,” he said, pre-emptively calling the legislation as “the biggest bill ever signed”.
The final vote in the House followed a session that ran through the night on bringing the legislation to the floor, ending months of wrangling on Capitol Hill.