Crunch week in Congress for Trump's divisive mega-bill

Republicans in Congress raced Monday to put the final touches on US President Donald Trump's sprawling domestic policy mega-bill, which would slash social safety net programs to pay for $5 trillion in tax cuts.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are aiming to usher into law Trump's pledges to widen and extend his 2017 tax relief program, while boosting border security and defense and shrinking the government.

But independent analysts have warned that the proposals could see millions of low-income Americans losing health insurance, while Democrats say the tax reforms will largely benefit the ultra-wealthy.

"This is not trimming fat from around the edges, it's cutting to the bone," said Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"The overwhelming majority of the savings in this bill will come from taking health care away from millions of Americans."

Republicans have scheduled committee votes Tuesday on the much-touted "big, beautiful bill" encompassing most of Trump's domestic agenda, with final House passage before May 26 and Senate approval by July 4.

The process will test Trump's sway over his party, with lawmakers determined to help the Republican leader cement his legacy but queasy over big benefits cuts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The president took to social media on Monday to call on Republicans to unite behind the chairmen of the three committees crafting the legislation.

"Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America," he posted on Truth Social. "The Democrats, on the other hand, want to DESTROY our Country."

The Republicans do not need Democratic support to pass the package, but their slim majorities in both chambers of Congress mean they will have to demonstrate almost perfect unity.

- Marathon session -

Already facing fury over sweeping federal cuts led by tech billionaire Elon Musk and blowback over Trump's tariffs regime, they are deeply divided over how much further to squeeze spending.

Democrats released an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Sunday stating that $715 billion would be cut from health spending over a decade -- resulting in 8.6 million more Americans being uninsured.

On the conservative flank, more than 30 House Republicans signed a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson warning that the package cannot add to the deficit and must include $2 trillion in savings.

The House Ways and Means Committee on Monday released its 389-page plan for tax cuts -- and some revenue increases -- on the eve of a marathon session Tuesday to finalize the text.

The price tag is expected to swell to $5 trillion over a decade, according to the nonpartisan CBO, exceeding the $4.5 trillion permitted by a budget resolution Republicans adopted earlier this year.

The legislation seeks to make good on some of the president's headline election campaign pledges, including eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.

But it includes a major tax hike on the earnings of the largest university endowments -- currently just 1.4 percent -- that would bring it in line with the corporate tax rate of 21 percent.

Religious universities would be exempted.

The House Agriculture Committee -- which is looking for $230 billion in savings -- also considers its portion of the package on Tuesday.

Moderate Republicans on the panel have been alarmed by proposals to offload more of the costs for the federal food aid program -- the nation's largest anti-hunger initiative -- onto the states.