GOP Senators Stall Trump-Backed Big Beautiful Bill Over Deficit, Medicaid Cuts

President Donald Trump's ambitious 'big, beautiful bill' faces significant hurdles in the Senate, with key GOP senators expressing opposition over fiscal concerns and specific provisions. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) has firmly opposed the bill due to insufficient deficit reduction, despite a brief moment of optimism after the Senate Finance Committee released a version with deeper Medicaid cuts and a higher debt ceiling. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) remains a likely opponent, unwilling to support raising the debt ceiling by several trillion dollars. Other GOP lawmakers, such as Representatives Jeff Van Drew and Tom Kean Jr., have raised objections to Senate changes that further reduce Medicaid funding and lower the SALT deduction cap, respectively, fearing harm to constituents. The Senate's version also proposes extending clean-energy tax credits beyond the House's more restrictive timeline, creating additional intra-party disagreements. Overall, the bill's future is uncertain as senators from various states voice concerns over Medicaid cuts, tax deduction limits, and fiscal responsibility, indicating a challenging path forward for Trump's legislative agenda.