Committee advances Trump megabill to full House after changes aimed at appeasing holdouts

 Committee advances Trump megabill to full House after changes aimed at appeasing holdouts

A nearly 22-hour hearing tees up vote on House floor.


The House is gearing up for a long overnight session as Republicans plow ahead with the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" after the House Rules Committee advanced a revised version of the megabill supporting President Donald Trump's second-term agenda.

After a marathon hearing, the committee vote was 8-4, teeing up action on the House floor with final passage possibly in the early morning hours.

The committee vote came after changes to several of the bill's provisions, including a change to when Medicaid work requirements would kick in.

Texas Rep. Chip Roy was absent for the committee's votes.

The key procedural step was needed before advancing the legislation to a final vote.

On the full House floor, Democrats are already trying to slow down the bill's movement on the House floor by using stalling tactics like forcing a vote to adjourn. There is expected to be action on the House floor through the night.

The slow march toward passage comes after Trump met with House Speaker Mike Johnson and members of the House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday, aiming to shore up support for the bill.

That meeting came after earlier negotiations with hard-liners fell apart Tuesday. The GOP is far from unified around the bill, which they earlier had said they hoped to move to a vote on Wednesday. Several sticking points, primarily regarding Medicaid work requirements and a cap on state and local tax deductions, still need to be worked out.

After the meeting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "The meeting was productive and moved the ball in the right direction. The President reiterated how critical it is for the country to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill as quickly as possible."

Clearing the House is just the first hurdle for the bill -- it will also have to pass muster with a Senate Republican conference that is already telegraphing that they plan to make changes.

Here are the major changes to the bill in the 42-page amendment:

Medicaid: The start date for new Medicaid work requirements will now kick in "no later than December 31, 2026." The original bill had the work requirements starting in 2029.

This alteration is a win for hardliners who have for days been pushing for steeper spending cuts to be included in the package. Medicaid work requirements are expected to reduce spending in the bill.

There is also a new incentive for states to not expand Medicaid. Medicaid expansion states are increasing state-directed payments up to 110% to maintain the structure.

State and Local Tax Deductions: SALT deduction rises to $40,000 for incomes under $500,000. This is a substantive change from the $10,000 cap that was implemented by Republicans in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

This is a concession geared toward satiating blue-state Republicans in states like New York and California. Many of them conditioned their support for the package on lifting or raising the cap on these deductions. Moderates will brand this as a big win.

Maga Savings Account: The amendment changes the names of these accounts. Instead of MAGA Accounts, they will now be called "Trump" Accounts. The president's last name appears in the manager's amendment +50 times.

Expedited cuts to clean energy credits: Some of Biden-era clean energy tax credits will phase out sooner, allowing Republicans to recoup costs to apply toward the overall cost of the bill. To receive credits, new projects must break ground within 60 days or be "placed in service" by the end of 2028.

Billions in border security reimbursements: The Department of Homeland Security appropriates $12 billion to states for costs associated with Biden-era border actions through September 30, 2029. The DHS Secretary can authorize grants to assist with immigration enforcement.

Ends tax on silencers: The manager's amendment delists silencers from the National Firearms Act, effectively ending a tax on transferring silencers.

Army prepares tanks for DC military parade that could cost $45 million

The parade marks the Army's 250th year and falls on Trump's birthday



The Army on Wednesday began preparing to ship Abrams tanks from its base in Fort Cavazos, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to participate in its 250th birthday parade along the National Mall on June 14, loading the tanks aboard trains that will depart later this month.

In all, 28 M1 Abrams tanks will be sent to participate in the parade, officials said.

The 250th Army celebration, which also happens to fall on President Donald Trump's birthday, has stoked speculation that Trump is using the event to get the kind of grand military parade he sought in his first term. That event was canceled, though, when cost estimates topped $90 million.

Also included will be Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Stryker vehicles, along with World War II-era platforms such as the M4 Sherman tank, the Douglas C-47 transport aircraft and the P-51 Mustang fighter. Cobra and Huey helicopters will be included among the 50 Army aircraft in the parade, as will 34 horses, two mules, one wagon and a dog.


Tanks are loaded for transport at Fort Cavazos, near Killeen, Texas, May 21, 2025.
Jim Vertuno/AP
MORE: Nearly 7,000 troops, tanks and parachute jumps: Army confirms military parade coinciding with Trump's birthday
Officials said the heavy equipment will be staged at West Potomac Park in Washington ahead of the parade, which will follow along Constitution Avenue and end near the White House, where parachutists with the Army's Golden Knights will jump onto the Ellipse.

One of those parachutists will offer a single folded flag to Trump. After the parade is finished, Trump is expected to administer a constitutional oath to some 250 new and reenlisting Army recruits.

"The parade will trace the Army's evolution from the Revolutionary War through to the U.S. Army of Tomorrow," America250 said in a press release. "Attendees will experience 250 years of Army heritage through historical U.S. Army personnel reenactors, period-accurate equipment, vehicles, impressive flyovers, and military bands participating in this landmark event."


U.S. Army Abrams tanks take part in a military parade in Warsaw on Polish Army Day, Aug. 15, 2024.
Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images
MORE: Army to go 'bigger' to mark its 250th. Could it be the military parade Trump wants?
The Army said it expects to spend anywhere from $25 million to $45 million on this year's events, although the final tally is expected to be much higher when other costs are factored in. The U.S. Secret Service has designated the event a "national security special event" akin to the Super Bowl or a presidential inauguration, requiring significant security resources. The Department of Homeland Secretary has not released a cost estimate for securing the event.

The Army also will be on the hook for any damage done to roads in Maryland and Washington. Officials said they will mitigate the risk of damage by putting new rubber treads on heavy vehicles and metal plates on the roads where tanks might have to take a sharp turn.

The Army said 6,700 soldiers will begin arriving Washington, D.C., on June 11 and will sleep on cots inside unused federal office buildings, including the Department of Agriculture. Shower trailers will be set up in secured areas for the troops, who will also be offered a $69-per-day stipend, two ready-to-eat meals and a hot dinner provided by a contractor.

Many of the soldiers will march in the parade in period costumes, including Revolutionary War garb purchased from a production company, with the goal of telling the public the story of the service's 250 years.





Kim Jong Un says 'serious accident' with new North Korea warship was 'criminal act'

The North Korean leader said those responsible would be "dealt with




LONDON -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said a "serious accident" affecting the launch of the country's newest warship on Wednesday "was a criminal act caused by pure carelessness," the country's state media reported.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the launch failed after the vessel became stuck on its launching sled and tipped, causing damage to the bottom of the ship. The incident occurred at the Cheongjin shipyard in the northeast of the country.

Kim -- who was present for the launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer -- "made a stern assessment that this was a serious accident that could not have happened, could not be tolerated, and was a criminal act caused by pure carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism," KCNA reported.

Kim "sternly warned" several government bodies and institutions, KCNA said, including the Department of Munitions Industry, the Institute of Dynamics of the State Academy of Sciences, Kim Chaek University of Technology and the Central Ship Design Institute.


A satellite image shows the new North Korean warship at harbor before launch, in Chongjin, North Korea, on May 18, 2025.
Maxar Technologies/via Reuters
Kim said those responsible would be "dealt with" at a meeting of the Party Central Committee next month, KCNA said.

The ship launched on Wednesday is the second of North Korea's new destroyers. The first -- the Choe Hyon -- was unveiled in April.

During a ceremony to launch the Choe Hyon at the port of Nampo on the country's western coast, Kim said the ship's construction represented "a breakthrough" in North Korea's naval modernization.

Kim also said he "intends to build a blue-water operational fleet" -- meaning a force capable of operating in open ocean rather than solely in the coastal waters around the Korean Peninsula.






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