Senate Approves Budget With $175 Billion for Border Wall, Mass Deportations, $4.5 Trillion in Tax Cuts

After an all-night session that stretched into the early morning hours of Saturday, April 5, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 to approve a budget resolution aligned with President Donald Trump’s second-term legislative goals. The narrow vote came after hours of floor debate and a lengthy amendment process known as “vote-a-rama,” which pushed proceedings past 2:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The resolution now advances to the House, where its future remains uncertain amid internal Republican divisions. While its passage in the Senate marks a key milestone for Trump’s policy agenda, the road ahead will require reconciliation between differing House and Senate proposals.

Central to the resolution is the continuation of the 2017 tax cuts, which are currently set to expire at the end of this year. The Senate framework proposes making those cuts permanent and authorizing up to $4.5 trillion in additional tax relief over the next decade, targeting both individuals and businesses. Supporters argue the move will fuel economic growth, while critics say it risks worsening income inequality and adding to the national debt.

In addition to tax reform, the budget plan lays out significant new spending tied to Trump’s priorities. It allocates $175 billion toward border security and immigration enforcement. These funds would support initiatives such as mass deportations and continued construction of a border wall. Another $150 billion is designated for bolstering military strength, consistent with Trump’s “America First” focus on national security and defense readiness.

To partially offset the cost of these proposals, the resolution instructs congressional committees to identify $4 billion in immediate spending reductions. Long-term cuts could eventually reach $2 trillion over ten years once the final legislative package is drafted. Although precise details remain unclear, the House’s corresponding plan has sparked concern due to proposed cuts to mandatory spending programs like Medicaid. Analysts estimate Medicaid alone could see reductions exceeding $800 billion over a decade.

While Senate leaders have tried to allay fears by suggesting such programs may be spared, the resolution’s flexibility leaves room for significant revisions. Some Republican amendments aimed at protecting these programs indicate there may be internal disagreements over how deep the cuts should go.

The framework also includes a provision to raise the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion. This move is designed to prevent a federal default later this year while accommodating the plan’s fiscal ambitions. Still, the increase has prompted concern among fiscal conservatives, given the existing national debt, which now stands at $36 trillion.