Senate’s Big, Beautiful Bill Faces Byrd Bath and July 4 Deadline Crunch

The Senate is gearing up for a critical week as it tackles the Big, Beautiful Bill, a legislative behemoth that could reshape fiscal policy—or crash spectacularly by July 4. This weekend, Senate Republicans are diving into a high-stakes meeting with Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, scrubbing the bill to fit the Senate’s strict budgetary rules under the Byrd Rule. Named after the late Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd, this process—cheekily dubbed the Byrd Bath—ensures the bill stays fiscal, avoids policy traps, and doesn’t balloon the deficit. Provisions that don’t make the cut? They’re unceremoniously labeled Byrd droppings.

Using budget reconciliation, the Senate sidesteps a filibuster, but the trade-off is a tightrope walk of compliance. What MacDonough rules in or out could make or break the bill’s chances. Expect leaks and policy tidbits to trickle out from Sunday into Monday, offering clues about its fate. By mid-week, an initial vote kicks off the process, building toward a frenetic vote-a-rama—a round-the-clock voting marathon—late next week.

Even if the Senate pulls it off, the bill must return to the House, which will likely balk at Senate changes. Both chambers need to align before the bill lands on the president’s desk, and the July 4 deadline is looking shaky. If things stall, expect weekend sessions and a scrapped holiday recess. The Senate’s hustle is real, but so is the risk of a legislative face-plant.