Senate Advances Trump-Backed Budget Framework Amid Late-Night Voting

The U.S. Senate passed a budget framework supported by President Donald Trump after a marathon voting session, setting the stage for significant policy changes.

In a vote concluding around 2:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, the Senate approved a budget framework that aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda, passing mostly along party lines with a 51 to 48 vote. The framework, which saw opposition from only two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Rand Paul, aims to raise the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion and make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent. This move utilizes a current policy baseline, a method that has sparked debate among some conservatives who view it as a ‘gimmick’.

The Senate’s decision came after a series of amendment votes, dubbed a ‘vote-a-rama,’ where numerous amendments were proposed but none adopted. Notable among these were attempts by Sen. Bernie Sanders to raise the federal minimum wage and by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to limit Trump’s tariffs. The framework’s passage is seen as a critical step toward using budget reconciliation to advance Trump’s priorities without needing Democratic support.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised the resolution as a step toward permanent tax relief and investments in border, national, and energy security. However, the framework’s future in the House remains uncertain, with some House conservatives expressing reservations about the Senate’s approach to extending the tax cuts. As both chambers work to reconcile their frameworks, the path forward for this significant legislative effort remains closely watched.