Senate Dems complete reading of ‘big, beautiful Bill’ in 16 hours

Senate Democrats concluded their 16-hour marathon reading of President Donald Trump‘s comprehensive legislative package Sunday afternoon, with Senate clerks finishing the verbal recitation of the 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” around 3:03 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The reading, which began Saturday and stretched into Sunday, represents the culmination of a delay tactic orchestrated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to force Republicans to confront the full scope of their legislation and highlight provisions Democrats argue will harm American families.

This procedural maneuver highlights the deep partisan divisions surrounding Trump’s flagship legislation, which he wants signed by July 4th, and demonstrates how Democrats are using every available parliamentary tool to slow Republican momentum. The forced reading of the “big, beautiful bill” represents a significant escalation in legislative warfare, with the Congressional Budget Office confirming the legislation would cut $930 billion from Medicaid.

The strategy could impact millions of Americans’ healthcare access while setting a precedent for future legislative battles.

The bill text was released late Friday night, prompting Democrats to accuse Republicans of rushing through legislation “in the dead of night.” Only Senators Rand Paul and Thom Tillis joined Democrats in opposing the 51-49 procedural vote Saturday, with Paul citing concerns about adding to the national debt and Tillis warning the bill would cost North Carolina “tens of billions of dollars in lost funding.”

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.