Thursday 22 / May / 2025
The Republican-majority US House of Representatives on Thursday passed President Donald Trump's multitrillion dollar tax cut and spending bill, a key part of Trump's policy agenda for his second White House term.
The bill passed in a 215-214 vote, with all of the chamber's Democrats voting against the legislation. Two members of Trump's Republican Party also voted against the bill.
"The House has passed generational, truly nation-shaping legislation," House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
The vote came after a marathon push that kept lawmakers debating the bill through two successive nights. Johnson had to made tweaks to it to satisfy various factions of his party.
After the legislation passed the lower house of US Congress, Trump posted on social media: "Thank you to every Republican who voted YES on this Historic Bill! Now, it's time for our friends in the United States Senate to get to work."
What does the bill contain?
The legislation would fulfill many of Trump's campaign pledges.
It would extend corporate and individual tax cuts that were enacted during Trump's first term in office, while slashing welfare spending such as funding for the low-income health insurance program Medicaid.
The bill would also deliver new tax breaks on tips and car loans and boost spending on the military and border enforcement. Furthermore, it would cancel many green-energy incentives passed by Democratic former President Joe Biden.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted it would boost the incomes of the richest 10% while making the bottom 10% poorer, due to cuts to health care support and food aid.
