Jeffries Stalls Trump-Backed Bill with Marathon Speech After House Breaks GOP Mutiny

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Progress on former President Donald Trump’s sweeping $3.3 trillion legislative package came to a grinding halt early Thursday, as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) launched a marathon speech aimed at delaying the final vote.

Jeffries began speaking around 4:55 a.m., just after House Republicans successfully passed a procedural “rule vote” to advance what Trump has touted as his “big, beautiful bill.”

Armed with binders of material, Jeffries took full advantage of the “magic minute” — a House rule that allows party leaders to speak without time limits — in a bid to stall the vote for hours.

GOP Pushes Bill Forward Despite Intra-Party Tensions

The late-night procedural victory marked a major step forward for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), following intense negotiations with far-right holdouts threatening to tank the measure.

The House voted 219–213 to adopt the rules for debate, with only Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) breaking ranks. The bill now awaits a final vote, likely later Thursday — but only after Jeffries and his fellow Democrats exhaust their procedural tools.

“I feel the obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time,” Jeffries remarked during his remarks.

Jeffries Denounces GOP Bill as “One Big Ugly Bill”

Jeffries used his floor time to blast the Republican legislation, calling it “one big, ugly bill” that would reward the wealthy while harming everyday Americans. Reading from accounts of Medicaid recipients in Republican-led states, Jeffries criticized the proposed cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, warning that they could strip essential benefits from veterans, children, and seniors.

“This Congress is on the verge of ripping food out of the mouths of children, veterans, and seniors… in order to reward billionaires,” he said.

What’s in the Bill?

The bill — a centerpiece of Trump’s revived economic agenda — includes provisions that:

• Permanently extend tax brackets lowered by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)

• Eliminate taxes on tipped and overtime wages up to a capped amount

• Add new deductions for Americans over 65

• Roll back green energy tax credits from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

• Increase funding for the military and ICE

• Raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion

• Tighten work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance

Republicans claim the bill prioritizes the middle and working class, while Democrats argue it is a giveaway to the wealthy that guts essential services for vulnerable Americans.

Senate Modifications Stir Controversy

The Senate passed its version of the bill Tuesday, making key changes:

• Adjusted Medicaid cost-sharing between federal and state governments

• Tweaked certain tax provisions

• Increased the debt limit to avoid a potential default

These changes rattled both moderate and conservative Republicans. Fiscal hawks objected to the increased spending, while moderates worried about shifting Medicaid costs to states that expanded coverage under Obamacare.

Trump and Johnson Rally GOP to Unity

Despite these rifts, Trump and Johnson worked overtime to win over skeptical Republicans. Trump took to Truth Social to urge unity:

“This is everyone’s bill… the American people will have permanently lower taxes, secure borders, and a stronger military,” he wrote.

He added, “We are on schedule — let’s keep it going and be done before the July 4th vacation.”

Still, Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) — both members of the House Freedom Caucus and Rules Committee — voted against the bill during a tense 12-hour committee hearing.

Democrats’ Strategy: Delay, Delay, Delay

With little power to block the bill outright, Democrats are using delay tactics to slow its passage. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said the goal is to “buy time” and push back against the bill’s more controversial provisions.

“We were able to delay the last version for 30 hours,” Frost said. “We’ll do everything we can to slow this one down too.”

Unpredictable weather delays in D.C. also had lawmakers worried that travel complications could affect turnout for the final vote.

What Happens Next?

While the House cleared the rule vote, the final vote on the bill remains in limbo. Democrats may introduce more procedural hurdles, and internal GOP divisions could still pose challenges.

House Republicans hold only a three-vote majority, meaning even minor defections could derail the legislation.

Stay with us for continuing updates as this high-stakes legislative showdown unfolds.\