KLIK SAJA - The internal political climate in the United States continues to be shaken, as tensions between President Donald Trump and the Senate escalate over a long-standing budget dispute that has persisted since the early days of his presidency.
The deadlock threatens to destabilize vital public services across the country, with growing concerns that the government may soon be unable to meet key financial obligations.
On Monday, the U.S. Senate began voting on a sweeping budget proposal — dramatically dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill" — following weeks of contentious negotiations and political wrangling.
The Republican Party, which controls both chambers of Congress, remains divided over how deeply welfare programs should be cut in order to fund the extension of Trump-era tax breaks.
President Trump has publicly pushed for the bill to be passed before the 4th of July holiday.
After the House of Representatives narrowly approved its version of the bill last month by a single vote, the legislation moved to the Senate. However, revisions made by the Senate now require the bill to return to the House for another round of voting.
On Monday, senators were seen rushing through the halls of the Capitol, hurrying to the Senate floor for amendment votes, then retreating to private rooms for behind-the-scenes negotiations away from the press.
Debates over the bill’s amendments are being carried out in a marathon session known as a “vote-a-rama,” with senators arguing both for and against proposed changes.
One particularly controversial amendment, proposed by Florida Senator Rick Scott, would slash Medicaid funding — a move that could strip an estimated 20 million Americans of their health insurance coverage, according to some projections.
When asked about the potential fallout, Senate Majority Leader John Thune responded, “There are a lot of analyses out there,” adding that Scott’s amendment wouldn’t take effect until 2031, making immediate impacts uncertain.
Democrats, who have strongly opposed the bill due to its deep cuts to healthcare for low-income Americans, are expected to fully utilize their allotted ten hours of debate. In contrast, Republicans are likely to use significantly less.
California Democrat Senator Adam Schiff called the bill “shockingly bad,” expressing doubts that Senate Republicans could meet Trump’s deadline — and warning that even if they did, "who knows what will happen in the House."
On Sunday, the Senate voted 51–49 to officially open debate on the bill, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition, citing the need for more substantial revisions.
One of the defecting Republicans, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, announced his retirement following the vote. He criticized the bill as a betrayal of the promises made by Trump and GOP leadership to the American people.
