House Moves to Adjust Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Before Senate Vote

   

Senate likely to change House-passed megabill advancing Trump's agenda -  ABC News

As President Donald Trump’s much-discussed “big, beautiful bill” nears its next step in Congress, the House of Representatives is poised to make some technical corrections, following its passage and prior to the Senate’s involvement.

This process, albeit a minor adjustment, will play a crucial role in ensuring that the bill’s provisions remain in line with the special budgetary rules required for Senate passage.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized that these changes will be nothing unexpected and will not delay the bill's momentum toward its final passage.

For the Trump administration, this represents another step toward enacting vital budgetary and fiscal reforms that the American people are eagerly awaiting.

The “big, beautiful bill,” which has already passed the House, represents one of Trump’s most ambitious legislative goals: reforming how the government allocates its funds, particularly in areas like public broadcasting, USAID, and other discretionary spending programs.

The bill aims to cut wasteful government spending while reallocating funds to more productive areas that serve the American people directly.

Trump's plan has been a rallying point for conservatives who are frustrated with the ongoing fiscal irresponsibility in Washington, D.C., and want to see tangible changes made to reduce the size and scope of government.

While the House has already given its stamp of approval, the Senate remains the next battleground for the bill. As it stands, Republicans in the Senate are engaged in a process known as the “Byrd Bath.”

Senate likely to change House-passed megabill advancing Trump's agenda -  ABC News

This term, named after the late Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), refers to a method used to review provisions in a budget reconciliation package to ensure they comply with the special budget rules that allow for passage without the threat of a filibuster.

This process has become a critical part of how the Senate handles large budgetary bills, and it is where certain provisions that don’t fit within the narrow constraints of the rules will be excluded.

In essence, the Byrd Bath process works as a filter to weed out provisions that can’t be passed under the special budget reconciliation rules. In this case, the House bill includes some provisions that Senate Republicans are likely to deem extraneous to the budgetary process.

These might include certain spending allocations that don’t directly impact the budget’s bottom line, such as funding for public broadcasting or foreign aid programs like USAID, which Trump has criticized as being inefficient and wasteful.

These provisions will be stripped out by the Senate, but that doesn’t mean they are gone forever—rather, the House will make the necessary changes to comply with Senate rules and send the revised bill back for another vote.

This maneuver is an example of how the legislative process works in Washington, D.C. Even when a bill has passed one chamber of Congress, there is still work to be done to ensure that it conforms to the specific rules of the other chamber.

Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that the technical corrections required by the Byrd Bath process will not be anything unexpected, and that there is no real concern about these minor adjustments causing significant delays.

“I think it’s going to be nothing that was unexpected. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” Johnson said confidently, adding that his goal is to defend the integrity of the bill that was sent over to the Senate in its original form.

The latest roadblock for House Republicans' 'big beautiful bill': Senate  Republicans : NPR

For Trump and his administration, the passage of this bill in both the House and Senate represents a crucial victory in the battle to rein in government spending and refocus the federal budget on priorities that will directly benefit American citizens.

The bill, which eliminates wasteful spending and directs more funds toward domestic programs, has been a priority for the president throughout his tenure.

By cutting programs like USAID, which many conservatives see as a bloated and ineffective government initiative, Trump is taking steps toward fulfilling his promise to shrink the size of government and redirect resources where they are most needed.

The fact that the bill has already passed in the House is a significant accomplishment. The House, controlled by Republicans, was able to advance the bill through committee hearings, floor debates, and ultimately a vote without facing significant opposition.

Speaker Mike Johnson and his colleagues in the House have successfully rallied their members around Trump’s agenda of fiscal reform, and the vote was a clear indication that the Republican Party is united behind the president’s approach to handling the federal budget.

However, the real test will come in the Senate, where Democrats have consistently opposed Trump’s efforts to rein in government spending.

Senate Republicans, particularly those aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), are well aware of the challenges that come with passing a budget reconciliation bill that will not face a filibuster.

The Byrd Bath process is a key part of ensuring that the bill’s provisions comply with the rules, but it is also a critical point where Democrats can try to stall or obstruct the bill’s progress.

House Speaker says July 4 still the target for passing 'big beautiful bill'  - Live Updates - POLITICO

As the Senate prepares to take up the bill, Trump’s supporters are optimistic that the measure will ultimately pass. Senate Republicans are focused on trimming government waste while ensuring that the bill remains in line with the needs of American workers, families, and taxpayers.

With the Byrd Bath adjustments behind them, the revised bill will likely make its way back to the Senate floor for a final vote, where Republicans are expected to push hard for its passage.

For Trump, the passage of this bill represents not just a victory for his fiscal agenda, but also a significant win in the ongoing battle against the bloated and inefficient federal bureaucracy.

For years, Trump has spoken out about the wastefulness of programs like USAID, which many conservatives view as a channel for funding foreign governments and organizations that don’t serve the interests of the American people.

By pushing through a bill that eliminates such spending, Trump is sending a message to both Republicans and Democrats that his administration will not tolerate wasteful spending on programs that don’t benefit the American people directly.

The bill also aligns with Trump’s broader agenda of economic nationalism, as it seeks to refocus federal resources on American priorities rather than foreign ventures or global initiatives.

By shifting money away from public broadcasting and international aid programs, Trump is directing those funds toward projects and initiatives that serve the interests of American citizens.

The administration’s focus on reducing the size of government and cutting waste is popular among many conservative voters, who see it as an essential part of Trump's "America First" agenda.

Trump's big beautiful bill has some ugly details | Vox

In conclusion, as the House makes its technical corrections to the “big, beautiful bill,” and the Senate begins its review process, it is clear that the Trump administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and reducing government waste is a central part of the president’s agenda. .

While some provisions of the bill may be stripped out during the Byrd Bath process, the core of Trump’s proposal—to cut wasteful spending and refocus resources on American priorities—remains intact.

Speaker Mike Johnson’s confidence in the process reflects the broad support the bill has within the Republican Party, and the hope is that the Senate will ultimately pass it, sending it to Trump’s desk for final approval.

For Trump and his allies, this bill is a critical step in fulfilling his promise to overhaul the federal budget and make government work better for the American people.