Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer forced a last-minute change to President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" just before it passed the Senate, stripping the title from the legislative package.
While Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., was presiding over the chamber, Schumer objected to the bill’s title, “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” citing a violation of the Byrd Rule — a provision in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that restricts non-budgetary language in reconciliation bills.
Ricketts upheld Schumer’s point of order, effectively removing the title from the bill. “It is now called ‘the act,’” Schumer told reporters. “But in reality, it’s the ‘big ugly betrayal,’ and the American people know it.”
Schumer slammed the bill’s contents, claiming it would lead to mass job losses, health insurance cancellations, child hunger, and skyrocketing national debt. “One Republican senator literally chose to retire rather than vote yes and decimate his own state,” he added, referring to Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Asked whether the name change was meant to irritate Trump, Schumer replied, “I didn’t even think of President Trump. I thought of the truth. This is not a beautiful bill.”
The Senate passed the $3.3 trillion spending bill by a razor-thin 51-50 margin after an all-night vote session. Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaker. All Democrats voted against it, along with Republicans Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Tillis.
Progressives also lashed out, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who posted, “JD Vance was the deciding vote to cut Medicaid across the country. An absolute and utter betrayal of working families.”
Vance defended the bill, highlighting its “massive tax cuts,” including a no-tax policy on tips and overtime, and major funding for border security. “This is a big win for the American people,” he wrote on X.
Despite early opposition, Sen. Lisa Murkowski supported the measure after Alaska-specific provisions were added. The bill now returns to the House, where lawmakers must reconcile differences before the expected July 4 deadline.