Jeffries’ Marathon Speech Stalls Trump’s $3.3T Bill After House GOP Unity Win

President Donald Trump’s ambitious $3.3 trillion legislative package, dubbed the big, beautiful bill, hit a roadblock in the House of Representatives as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., seized the floor in a marathon speech to delay its progress. Armed with binders, Jeffries began speaking before dawn, leveraging the magic minute privilege that allows party leaders to hold the floor indefinitely. His filibuster-style tactic could push the House’s final vote on the bill into the afternoon, stalling what Republicans hoped would be a swift victory.

The House had just overcome a potential GOP mutiny, voting 219 to 213 to advance the bill to its final debate phase. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., navigated tense negotiations with conservative holdouts, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, to secure this win. Yet, Jeffries’ delay underscores the deep divide over the bill, which promises sweeping tax cuts, increased defense spending, and stricter immigration policies but has sparked fierce Democratic opposition.

Jeffries didn’t hold back, slamming the bill as a big, ugly bill that he claims prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires while slashing Medicaid and food assistance for vulnerable Americans. This Congress is on the verge of ripping food out of the mouths of children, veterans, and seniors, he declared, reading stories of constituents who could lose benefits. Democrats, sidelined by the GOP’s use of the budget reconciliation process, are resorting to procedural delays as their primary weapon.

The bill itself is a bold extension of Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, permanently lowering income tax brackets while introducing deductions for tipped and overtime wages. It also rolls back green energy credits from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, boosts funding for ICE and national defense, and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. New work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance have drawn particular ire from Democrats, who argue the measures hurt working-class families.

Despite conservative concerns about the Senate’s tweaks—adding billions to the deficit—Trump and Johnson rallied enough support to move forward. The Senate, with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote, passed its version earlier this week. Trump took to Truth Social, urging House Republicans to unite: The biggest winner will be the American people, who will have permanently lower taxes, secure borders, and a stronger military.

With razor-thin GOP majorities in both chambers, the bill’s fate remains uncertain. Moderates worry about Medicaid cost shifts to states, while conservatives argue the cuts don’t go far enough. As Jeffries continues his stand, and with potential weather delays looming, the House’s final vote hangs in the balance.