The Senate's Next Moves to Pass Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

The Senate is gearing up for a critical step in advancing President Donald Trump’s so-called "big, beautiful bill," aimed at cutting spending, slashing taxes, and potentially raising the debt ceiling. Spoiler alert: this isn’t happening overnight.

Between Thursday afternoon and the next 48 hours, the Senate is expected to vote on a retooled budget framework, a necessary step under special budget rules to dodge a filibuster that could sink the entire plan. This vote is scheduled between 4 and 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, setting the stage for what’s known as a "vote-a-rama" starting Friday evening.

Now, if you’re wondering what a "vote-a-rama" is, it’s essentially a marathon session of roll call votes that can stretch on for 10–15 hours—imagine a political all-nighter fueled by coffee and parliamentary procedure. Senators can propose an unlimited number of amendments during this frenzy, meaning the debate could spiral into the wee hours of Saturday morning or even later.

Republicans are eager to push through this step quickly, though some conservative members might take the opportunity to propose amendments focused on debt reduction or adjustments to the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, Democrats are expected to offer amendments designed to put Republicans on the spot over contentious issues like Medicare, Medicaid, and tariffs.

Why the rush to start late on a Thursday and potentially run into the weekend? There’s a method to this madness. By kicking off closer to Friday night, the Senate might be able to abbreviate the vote-a-rama, though "abbreviated" in Senate terms still means hours of debate and voting.

Let’s zoom out for a moment. This vote is just step three in a lengthy eight-step process to pass Trump’s legislative centerpiece. Back in February, the Senate and House each approved their own budget outlines, but they still need to sync their frameworks to move forward. Assuming the Senate adopts its updated blueprint this weekend, the House will need to vote on it next week. But even that’s not a done deal—some archconservatives in the House might balk at the Senate’s spending cut figures.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., seems cautiously optimistic about aligning with the Senate framework. After swearing in two new Republican representatives on Wednesday, Johnson quipped about his slightly more comfortable margin: "It’s an embarrassment of riches. Now we can lose, what, three votes now or something?" Comforting, right?

The real heavy lifting starts after this step, as Congress will need to assemble, debate, and pass the actual bill. And yes, that will likely involve another vote-a-rama. If the House and Senate approve different versions of the bill, they’ll need even more votes to reconcile their differences. In other words, don’t expect this "big, beautiful bill" to land on Trump’s desk anytime soon—it’s more of a summer blockbuster than a spring release.

The stakes are high for Trump’s legislative agenda, and this bill is poised to be the most significant piece of legislation in Congress over the next two years. But with each step forward, the complexity and political maneuvering grow. Buckle up; it’s going to be a long ride.