A sprawling budget bill in the US Senate could cut health insurance coverage for nearly 12 million Americans and add US$3.3 trillion in debt, according to new estimates.
The assessment from the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan federal agency, could complicate Republican efforts to pass President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in the coming days.
The spending plan narrowly cleared a preliminary vote in the Senate late on Saturday after party leaders scrambled to arm-twist hesitant members of their rank and file.
One defector, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, announced he would not seek reelection after voting against the president’s signature legislation.
Democratic lawmakers have led criticism of the bill. The CBO numbers calculate 1-trillion in cuts to healthcare funding if the measure passes.
The latest version of the bill was advanced in a 51-49 Senate vote on Saturday night. Two Republicans – Tillis and Rand Paul of Kentucky – joined Democrats in opposing the move.