Senate Republicans stood by President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar spending rollback plan, pushing the legislation through a critical procedural vote with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote Tuesday night.
The legislation now enters a 10-hour debate phase, during which Senate Democrats are expected to force delays and criticize the measure for its proposed reductions in foreign aid and funding for public broadcasting, according to Fox News.
The trimmed-down $9 billion proposal passed with overwhelming GOP support except for three Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — broke ranks and voted against it. Senate Democrats uniformly opposed the bill.
As the Senate moves into a vote-a-rama session, where lawmakers from both parties can propose unlimited amendments, Democrats are expected to attempt to stall or block the legislation entirely.
Republicans, on the other hand, are likely to offer an amendment to shield approximately $400 million in funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program launched during the Bush administration to fight global HIV and AIDS.
That potential carveout, already endorsed by the White House, comes after concerns from within the GOP. Some Senate Republicans voiced strong reservations—both publicly and privately—about cutting PEPFAR funding, warning they might withdraw support for the bill unless the issue was addressed.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed optimism that the House would ultimately support the measure, despite the proposed adjustment.
“There was a lot of interest among our members in doing something on the PEPFAR issue,” Thune said ahead of the vote. “So, that’s reflected in the substitute, and we hope that if we can get this across the finish line in the Senate that the House will accept that one small modification.”
