The Republicans and President Trump seemed to be able to push through the gigantic budget with an accompanying comprehensive legislative package already on Thursday morning.
Instead, a dramatic and prolonged process followed in Congress. When the votes were finally cast, 218 members had voted for the comprehensive but controversial budget proposal, while 214 had voted against.
All Americans will benefit from this, claims the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
Drama in Congress
Political maneuvering, promises, and threats characterized the process. When everything seemed to be ready for voting on Thursday morning, the Democrats' opposition leader in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, took the podium.
More than eight hours later, and with a record time in the podium in such a context, Jeffries fell silent. By then, he had, among other things, accused Trump of carrying out a "complete frontal attack on the American people".
Finally, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Johnson, got the word. He praised Trump as "a hero and a visionary" and said the occasion constituted a "golden foundation" for the future of the USA.
Fell in line
Uncertain party colleagues within the Republicans had thus fallen in line with the party leadership.
This happened after intense pressure and persuasion from Speaker Johnson and his staff. Trump called hesitant members, invited them to the White House, and lured them with gifts and photos taken with the President.
In the end, it turned out that Trump had sufficient power to get the comprehensive package through.
It will transform this country into a rocket, said the President to reporters afterwards and called the package "the largest of its kind ever signed".
Trump announced directly that he would sign the law already on Friday, on the national day of July 4, just as he had previously promised.
Increased national debt?
The nearly 1,000-page thick budget proposal arouses strong feelings in the polarized USA. It proposes that the tax cuts for mainly high-income earners, which Trump introduced during his previous term, become permanent. The budget also includes major investments in defense, efforts against illegal migration, and strengthened border security. Tax on overtime work and tips is abolished, and the ceiling for national debt is raised.
To finance this, drastic cuts are made in the state health insurance Medicaid for low-income earners and the program for state food stamps. And predecessor Joe Biden's climate regulations are repealed, including support for the electric car market.
According to the independent Congressional Budget Office, the budget will increase the already high national debt by a staggering $3,300 billion. Additionally, 12 million Americans risk losing their health insurance.
The budget had been approved in the House of Representatives earlier. But then the Senate made additions, before the writing was approved there on Tuesday after an intense debate where Vice President J D Vance was forced to use his casting vote.
Congress is the federal legislative assembly in the USA with its seat in the Capitol in the capital Washington DC. Its work runs in two-year periods – the 119th Congress meeting starts on January 3, 2025.
Congress consists of the Senate with 100 members, two from each state, and the House of Representatives with 435 seats distributed in relation to the population of the states.
In the Senate, the Republicans have 53 of the seats. South Dakota Senator John Thune is the majority leader and New York Democrat Chuck Schumer is the minority leader.
In the House of Representatives, the Republicans have 220 seats, the Democrats 212, and three are vacant. Mike Johnson is the Speaker and Hakeem Jeffries is the minority leader.
Congress enacts federal laws, decides on taxes and appropriations, and approves ministers and other high officials. It can also dismiss federal officials, including the President and judges, through impeachment.
Sources: USA's Congress, House Press Gallery
