Senate GOP approves framework for Trump's tax breaks and spending cuts after all-night session

Senate Republicans plugged away overnight and into early Saturday morning to approve their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts framework, hurling past a hard line of Democratic opposition toward what President Donald Trump calls the «big, beautiful bill» that's central to his agenda.

The vote, 51-48, fell along mostly party lines. It could not have come at a more difficult political moment. The U.S. economy is churning after Trump's vast tariff scheme sent stocks plummeting, and experts are warning of soaring costs for consumers at home and threats of a potential recession. Even some Republicans have expressed concerns.

But with a nod from Trump GOP leaders held determined to march ahead. Approval paves the way for Republicans, in the months ahead, to try to power a tax cut bill through both chambers of Congress over the objections of Democrats, just as they did in Trump's first term with unified party control in Washington.

«Let the voting begin,» Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday night.

The evening kicked off what's called vote-a-rama as Democrats were intent on making the effort as politically painful as possible, with votes on some two dozen amendments to the package that GOP senators will have to defend before next year's midterm elections.

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Among them were proposals to ban tax breaks for the super-wealthy, end Trump's tariffs, clip his efforts to shrink the federal government and protect Medicaid, Social Security and other services. One, in response to the Trump national security team's use of Signal, sought to prohibit military officials from using any commercial messaging application to transmit war plans. Most were failing.

Democrats accused Republicans of