WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 18: The U.S. Capitol Building is captured during sunset on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. – Kevin Carter/Getty Images
In the Senate, the focus is on President Donald Trump’s significant policy proposal as Republicans gear up for a potential vote next week. Senate Republicans, after months of negotiations, are preparing for a crucial vote on Trump’s comprehensive domestic policy bill. This vote will be a significant test for Republican Leader John Thune and Trump’s influence on the Senate, framing the decision for members as a clear choice: support the president or not.
Thune anticipates that the Senate may commence discussions on the bill by the middle of next week. This sets off a rush to finalize the text, secure votes, and resolve key disagreements to appease dissenters without veering the bill off course and risking a standstill in the House of Representatives, where it narrowly passed.
Next week is pivotal, with pending tough decisions that must be addressed promptly. The timeline hinges on the hope that the 20-hour debate period could kick off by Wednesday, if all goes as planned. Republicans intend to expedite proceedings and launch a voting marathon known as vote-a-rama by Thursday evening or Friday. The goal is to wrap up the process by the week’s end.
In the coming days, a multitude of intricate tasks and negotiations must unfold to ready the bill for the Senate floor. Negotiations, both substantive and strategic, aim to secure support for the bill. The Byrd Bath, a crucial process led by the Senate parliamentarian, is currently ongoing to ensure the bill aligns with special Senate rules that enable Republicans to advance it with a simple majority.
Named after the late Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, the Byrd Bath evaluates whether bill provisions adhere to reconciliation rules, which mandate more than an incidental budget impact for passage with a simple majority. Committee staffers from both parties present arguments to the parliamentarian, with the Senate Finance Committee set to engage in this process soon. This step is pivotal as it pertains to tax and healthcare components within the bill.
Several committees have already begun this process, including the Senate Banking Committee, as efforts continue to move the bill forward within the Senate’s procedural framework.
“The Parliamentarian has agreed that provisions such as the funding cap for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), elimination of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), reduction of resources for the Office of Financial Research and Financial Stability Oversight Council, and cuts to Federal Reserve staff salaries violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule,” stated Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office. A press conference celebrating the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was held in Washington, DC on May 22, 2025, where a sign was attached to the podium. The main challenges remaining include issues such as state and local tax deductions, Medicaid protections, and green energy tax credits. Negotiations are ongoing, with Senators and House members working to find common ground on these key areas.”
The primary factor that persuaded House conservatives to vote for the bill was the timeline. Therefore, any alterations to this timeline could pose a challenge when the bill is returned to the House. The next step after the Senate’s approval is sending the bill back to the House. Speaker Mike Johnson and the GOP conference in the House will then need to make a crucial decision: whether to support the revised bill swiftly, enabling it to reach Trump’s desk for a significant policy victory, or to push for their own version, initiating a lengthy and intricate negotiation process through a conference committee to reconcile differences between both chambers. Both Johnson and Trump are aiming to avoid the latter scenario, but the question remains whether the contentious House GOP conference will reach a consensus. Stay updated on CNN news and newsletters by signing up at CNN.com.
