Breaking: Senate Takes Critical Procedural Vote on Rescissions Package (Updated)

By Susie Moore | 9:20 PM on July 15, 2025

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The Senate took a key test vote Tuesday evening, barely eking out a win for President Donald Trump's agenda in a 51-50 vote.

It came down to the wire for the One Big Beautiful Bill, but the House and Senate dragged it across the finish line just in time for President Trump's signature on his signature legislation on the 4th of July.

But the GOP didn't get a chance to bask in the glow of that success for long: As soon as they returned from the holiday, they had to get to work on the rescissions package sent over by the White House seeking to claw back $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, with roughly $8.3 billion relating to foreign aid programs and $1.1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that funds NPR and PBS.

The House narrowly passed the package in June with a 214-212 vote. The Senate has until Friday, July 18, to approve the package, but to get there, they first needed to vote on the motion to discharge the measure (and thus send it to the floor for a final vote).

House and Senate Now at Odds Over Spending Cuts Bill

The Senate began the procedural vote around 8:00 PM Eastern. As is their wont, both Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) bucked the party and voted "No" on the motion, as did Senator Mitch McConnell (KY).

And there’s a third.

McConnell also a no. Will need Vance to break the tie https://t.co/M9RoHyFDLE
— Samantha Handler (@sn_handler) July 16, 2025

That meant there could be no other Republican no votes — because there certainly weren't going to be any Democrat yes votes — and that Vice President JD Vance would be needed to break the tie. Shortly before 9:00 PM Eastern, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) cast the 50th vote for the Republicans. Then, at around 9:20 PM Eastern, Vance broke the tie.

Next up: A vote-a-rama on Wednesday, followed by a final vote on the measure. Assuming it clears that hurdle (and it should, though it's liable to be another squeaker), the package heads back to the House for a final vote to approve the Senate amendments. And that has to be completed by midnight on Friday (i.e., Thursday into Friday). So the time is of the essence.

Update - 9:50 PM Eastern:

After passing the motion to discharge the bill from committee, the Senate held a second procedural vote to formally begin debate on the measure. Like the motion to discharge, that also passed 51-50 (same vote configuration) and now opens up 10 hours of debate.

Senate breaks second hurdle to formally begin debate on rescissions bill, 51-50. Vance breaks tie. Collins, Murkowski and McConnell again vote no
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 16, 2025