President Donald Trump’s “megabill” may undergo significant changes as Senate Republicans prepare to scrutinize its provisions. Despite Speaker Mike Johnson’s urging to minimize tweaks, Senate GOP leaders have made it clear that they will impose their own ideas on the bill.
Seven key areas of concern for Senate Republicans include weak spending cuts, which they aim to increase from $1.5 trillion to a $2 trillion ceiling. They also oppose the House’s freeze on provider tax and new co-payment requirements under Medicaid, as well as business tax sunsets that would restore certain tax cuts only for four or five years.
Moreover, Senate Republicans plan to use an accounting method to zero out the cost of extending expiring tax cuts, which has been met with opposition from some House Republicans. The bill’s requirement for states to cover a portion of federal food assistance costs is also sparking controversy.
Additionally, Senate Republicans are concerned about drastic cuts to clean-energy incentives and have expressed concerns that gutting these credits would undercut investments and lead to job losses in their states.
Finally, the state-and-local-tax deduction cap in the House bill has been met with resistance from some GOP senators, who see no reason to raise it. Ron Johnson’s suggestion to eliminate the cap underscores the potential for significant changes to the bill as it moves through the Senate.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/22/megabill-senate-republican-changes-00366407