The final approval of the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill, the ambitious budget package promoted by President Donald Trump, entered a legislative limbo on Wednesday as the House of Representatives faced an internal fracture that threatens to derail the flagship measure of the Republican domestic agenda.

According to The New York Times, House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the day trying to persuade the most reluctant factions of his caucus, especially after the version approved by the Senate introduced changes that further strained the party’s already precarious unity.

The situation is particularly delicate: any additional modification would force the bill back to the Senate for further negotiations, a process that could stretch for weeks and, in the words of The Times, “potentially killing the enterprise altogether.”

A project with Trump’s seal

The proposal gathers several of Trump’s electoral promises:

• tax cuts totaling $4.5 trillion,
• increased military and border security spending,
• funding for a massive deportation campaign.

However, its political and fiscal cost has unleashed a wave of criticism, even within the party itself. AFP reported that the package adds $3.3 trillion to the national debt, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates that cuts to social programs would leave millions of people without health coverage and drastically reduce federal food assistance.

The pressure to approve it before July 4 — a symbolic date set by Trump — has heightened tensions. “Our nation will make a fortune this year, more than any of our competitors, but only if the Big, Beautiful Bill is APPROVED,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The Republican dilemma

The House was moving Wednesday toward a procedural vote to allow final debate. But, according to The New York Times, several conservative lawmakers expressed outright opposition to the Senate changes, which deepened Medicaid cuts and raised the fiscal impact.

“The Senate doesn’t get to be the final say on everything. We’ve got to work this out,” declared Representative Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus, who threatened to oppose the bill even if that means prolonging sessions beyond the July 4 recess.

Meanwhile, moderates concerned about their reelection in competitive districts warned that the cuts to Medicaid and food assistance could become an electoral liability in 2026. AFP quoted conservative Andy Biggs, who called the project “incredibly bad in some respects.”

Republican leadership continued to project optimism. “We’re going to pass this. It’s just a matter of when,” said Tom Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican, according to The New York Times. However, Johnson can only afford to lose three votes, and by midday Wednesday, at least two Republicans had already announced they would vote against the initial procedure.

An opportunity for Democrats

The Republican paralysis has become a rhetorical weapon for the opposition. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described the situation as a “disgrace” and, according to AFP, accused Republicans of “kneeling before Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.”

During a press conference on the Capitol steps, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark called out Representative David Valadao — considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans — questioning how he could support such severe Medicaid cuts when he had previously expressed concern about the program. Valadao, in fact, has said he does not support the level of reductions included in the Senate version.

The dispute has revived Democratic accusations that the Republican Party behaves like “a cult” seeking nothing more than a photo of Trump signing a bill on Independence Day while millions of Americans risk losing essential benefits.

In previous last-minute votes, Republican leaders have managed to overcome resistance. But this time, the margin for maneuvering is minimal. The New York Times warned that any last-minute changes would send the Big, Beautiful Bill back to the Senate and likely render it unviable.

Thus, while Trump multiplies private meetings and public messages to maintain pressure, the House remains trapped in a legislative ping-pong that could bury his most emblematic project.