Page 3 - Us Senate

Trump removes Billy Long as IRS commissioner in less than 2 months

President Donald Trump has removed former US Rep Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, a White House official said Friday. The official, who was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not give a reason for the dismissal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner, the official said. The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats' concerns about the Republican's past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after Trump nominated him. While in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS. A former auctioneer, Long has no background in tax administration.

US Senate approves Trump's $9 bn cut on foreign aid, public broadcasting

US Senate narrowly passes $9 billion Trump budget cut targeting public broadcasting and foreign aid; measure heads to House amid mounting criticism

Trump's push to reclaim $9 bn in foreign aid, media funds gets Senate nod

President Donald Trump's request to cancel about USD 9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending is nearing passage in the Senate, an action that would have a tiny impact on the nation's rising debt but could have major ramifications for future spending fights in Congress. Spending bills generally need bipartisan support to advance in the Senate. But the legislation before the Senate gives Republicans the opportunity to undo some of the previously approved spending without Democratic support. The measure contains Trump's efforts to target the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and roll back some of the humanitarian and economic assistance the US provides internationally. The Trump administration is promising more rescission packages to come if the first effort is successful. Democrats say doing so upends a legislative process that typically requires lawmakers from both parties to work together to fund the nation's priorities. The move to claw back a sliver of federal

Senate votes to move ahead with Trump's request for $9 bn in spending cuts

Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced President Donald Trump's request to cancel some USD 9 billion in previously approved spending, overcoming concerns from some lawmakers about what the rescissions could mean for impoverished people around the globe and for public radio and television stations in their home states. The Senate vote was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as Wednesday. The bill would then return to the House for another vote before it would go to Trump's desk for his signature before a Friday deadline. Republicans winnowed down the president's request by taking out his proposed USD 400 million cut to a programme known as PEPFAR. That change increased the prospects for the bill's passage. The politically popular programme is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under then-President George W. Bush to combat HIV/AIDS. The president is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid

Trump signs his 'big, beautiful' tax bill at White House ceremony

The legislative milestone reinforces Trump's grip on the Republican Party, whose Capitol Hill leaders muscled the bill through the House and Senate this week

State AI law ban dropped from Trump's tax bill after GOP rift over rules

A controversial bid to deter states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade seemed on its way to passing as the Republican tax cut and spending bill championed by President Donald Trump worked its way through the US Senate. But as the bill neared a final vote, a relentless campaign against it by a constellation of conservatives including Republican governors, lawmakers, think tanks and social groups had been eroding support. One, conservative activist Mike Davis, appeared on the show of right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon, urging viewers to call their senators to reject this AI amnesty for trillion-dollar Big Tech monopolists. He said he also texted with Trump directly, advising the president to stay neutral on the issue despite what Davis characterised as significant pressure from White House AI czar David Sacks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and others. Conservatives passionate about getting rid of the provision had spent weeks fighting others

House resumes as GOP leaders try to win over holdouts on Trump's tax bill

The House sprang back to action late Wednesday after a prolonged stalemate as Republican leaders spent the afternoon and evening working furiously to convince sceptics to support President Donald Trump's tax and spending cuts package and send it to his desk by the Fourth of July deadline. The day evolved into one of fast starts and hard stops, as Speaker Mike Johnson recalled lawmakers to Washington. GOP leadership vowed immediate consideration of the 887-bill, eager to seize on the momentum of its passage the day before in the Senate. But after a quick procedural vote in the morning, the chamber stood idle for more than seven hours as GOP lawmakers met with Trump at the White House and others shuttled in and out of the speaker's office for private meetings. The American people gave us a clear mandate, and after four years of Democrat failure, we intend to deliver without delay, the top four House GOP leaders said after the Senate passed the bill Tuesday, thanks to Vice President JD

Explained: Breaking down the 900-page Big Beautiful Bill | Donald Trump | US News

US President Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ cleared the Senate yesterday after an 18-hour voting marathon. The bill had sparked political fireworks for weeks.

Trump calls 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' a win for Americans after Senate nod

After the US Senate passed the bill with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie, Trump urged lawmakers to present it to his desk before Independence Day

Senate passes Trump's 'Big and Beautiful' Bill as Vance breaks tie

Senate Republicans hauled President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill to passage Tuesday on the narrowest of votes, pushing past opposition from Democrats and their own GOP ranks after a turbulent overnight session. Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie to push it over the top. The three Republicans opposing the bill were Sens Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky. The outcome capped an unusually tense weekend of work at the Capitol, the president's signature legislative priority teetering on the edge of approval, or collapse. The difficulty it took for Republicans, who have the majority hold in Congress, to wrestle the bill to this point is not expected to let up. The package now goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson had warned senators not to deviate too far from what his chamber had already approved. But the Senate did make changes, particularly to Medicaid, risking more problems as they race to ...

Long day in Senate as GOP tries to gather support on Trump's big bill

The Senate's long day of voting churned toward evening Monday, with Republican leaders grasping for ways to shore up support for President Donald Trump's big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts while fending off proposed amendments from Democrats who oppose the package and are trying to defeat it. The outcome was not yet in sight. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota acknowledged the Republicans are figuring out how to get to the end game". And House Speaker Mike Johnson signalled the potential problems the Senate package could face when it is eventually sent back to his chamber for a final round of voting, which was expected later this week, ahead of Trump's July 4 deadline. I have prevailed upon my Senate colleagues to please, please, please keep it as close to the House product as possible, Johnson, the Louisiana Republican, said as he left the Capitol around dinnertime. It's a pivotal moment for the Republicans, who have control of Congress and are racing to wrap

Debate underway in Senate on Trump's big bill, but overnight voting delayed

Debate is underway in the Senate for an all-night session Sunday, with Republicans wrestling President Donald Trump's big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts over mounting Democratic opposition and even some brake-pumping over the budget slashing by the president himself. The outcome from the weekend of work in the Senate remains uncertain and highly volatile, and overnight voting has been pushed off until Monday. GOP leaders are rushing to meet Trump's Fourth of July deadline to pass the package, but they barely secured enough support to muscle it past a procedural Saturday night hurdle in a tense scene. A handful of Republican holdouts revolted, and it took phone calls from Trump and a visit from Vice President JD Vance to keep it on track. GOP Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced Sunday he would not seek reelection after Trump badgered him for saying he could not vote for the bill with its steep Medicaid cuts. A new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budge

Trump's tax, spending cuts bill clears key Senate vote before July 4

Senate Republicans voting in a dramatic late Saturday session narrowly cleared a key procedural step as they race to advance President Donald Trump's package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July Fourth deadline. The tally, 51-49, came after a tumultuous session with Vice President JD Vance on hand if needed to break the tie. Tense scenes played out in the chamber as voting came to a standstill, dragging for hours as holdout senators huddled for negotiations. In the end, two Republicans opposed the motion to proceed to debate, joining all Democrats. It's still a long weekend of work to come.

What's inside Trump's 940-page tax, spending bill now before Senate

At some 940-pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. Now it's up to Congress to decide whether President Donald Trump's signature's domestic policy package will become law. Trump told Republicans, who hold majority power in the House and Senate, to skip their holiday vacations and deliver the bill by July 4. Senators were working through the weekend to pass the bill and send it back to the House for a final vote. Democrats are united against it. Here's the latest on what's in the bill. There could be changes as lawmakers negotiate. Tax cuts are priority Republicans say the bill is crucial because there would be a massive tax increase after December when tax breaks from Trump's first term expire. The legislation contains roughly USD 3.8 trillion in tax cuts. The existing tax rates and brackets would become permanent under the bill. It temporarily would

Senate holds rare weekend vote to meet Trump's tax, spending cuts deadline

The Senate is taking a key procedural vote during a rare Saturday evening session as Republicans race to pass US President Donald Trump's package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July 4 deadline. But the tally was tight and voting came to a standstill as Vice-President J D Vance arrived at the Capitol to break a potential tie. Several Republican senators were registering their opposition to proceeding to open debate on the bill. Republicans are using their majorities in Congress to push aside Democratic opposition, but they have run into a series of political and policy setbacks. Not all GOP lawmakers are on board with proposals to reduce spending on Medicaid, food stamps and other programs as a way to help cover the cost of extending some USD 3.8 trillion in Trump tax breaks. Ahead of the expected roll call, the White House released a statement of administrative policy saying it strongly supports passage of the bill that implements critical aspec

US Senate lowers proposed remittance tax to 1%, spares bank transfers

India is the largest recipient of remittances from the United States. In 2023-24, India received $32.9 billion from the US alone, accounting for 27.7 per cent of its total inward remittances

Senate rejects effort to restrain Trump on Iran as GOP backs his strikes

Democratic efforts in the Senate to prevent President Donald Trump from further escalating with Iran fell short Friday, with Republicans opposed to a resolution marking Congress' first attempt to reassert its war powers following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The resolution, authored by Sen Tim Kaine of Virginia, aimed to affirm that Trump should seek authorisation from Congress before launching more military action against Iran. Asked Friday if he would bomb Iranian nuclear sites again if he deemed necessary, Trump said, "Sure, without question." Passage of the resolution was seen as a long shot. Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and have overwhelmingly stood with the president in support of his decision to strike Iran. Most say that Iran posed an imminent threat that required decisive action from Trump, and they backed his decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend without seeking congressional approval. "Of course, we can debate the scope and

Senate Republicans unveil new tax-cut plan, slash health coverage for poor

The bill would preserve Trump's first-term tax cuts and create several new breaks that he championed on the campaign trail - including eliminating taxes on tips

Trump tax bill to add $2.42 trn to US deficit: Congressional Budget Office

House Republicans narrowly passed the bill last month, and it now faces opposition in the Senate, where multiple lawmakers have expressed varying demands for changes

Trump urges senators to sign his big bill of tax breaks into law by July 4

President Donald Trump wants his big, beautiful bill of tax breaks and spending cuts on his desk to be signed into law by the Fourth of July, and he's pushing the slow-rolling Senate to make it happen sooner rather than later. Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the White House earlier this week and has been dialling senators for one-on-one chats, using both the carrot and stick to nudge, badger and encourage them to act. But it's still a long road ahead for the 1,000-page-plus package. His question to me was, How do you think the bill's going to go in the Senate? Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said about his call with Trump. Do you think there's going to be problems? It's a potentially tumultuous three-week sprint for senators preparing to put their own imprint on the massive Republican package that cleared the House late last month by a single vote. The senators have been meeting for weeks behind closed doors, including as they returned to Washington late Monday, to revi