In a high-stakes political drama unfolding in Washington, D.C., a group of Republican lawmakers is keeping a pivotal legislative vote in suspense as they deliberate the fate of a significant domestic-policy bill recently passed by the Senate. Dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” the legislation has hit a snag as negotiations continue, with the outcome potentially reshaping key aspects of federal policy.

The procedural vote has been at a standstill for over an hour and a half. At the heart of the tension are seven Republican holdouts, who are currently sequestered in a room just off the House floor. Here, they engage in intense discussions with House GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who have been seen entering and exiting the room in hopes of swaying the holdouts.

These discussions are critical as they represent a final hurdle before the bill can potentially reach President Donald Trump’s desk, ahead of his self-imposed July 4 deadline. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a key member of the House Freedom Caucus, voiced the options under consideration: either voting down the Senate’s version and sending it back for revisions or securing satisfactory responses from the White House to support the bill.

The White House has actively participated in the negotiations, with Budget Director Russ Vought providing clarifications on future spending cuts and the bill’s implementation strategies. These include contentious points like rollbacks of federal food aid and modifications to clean-energy tax credits.

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas expressed ongoing concerns in a Fox News interview, particularly criticizing the "Green New Scam subsidies" and the bill's overall spending levels, despite feeling somewhat reassured about revisions to Medicaid provisions.

Earlier in the day, discussions also took place at the White House, with President Trump himself working to rally support for the bill. Rep. Dusty Johnson noted the president’s effective persuasion, which seemed to move several members toward a favorable vote.

However, concerns remain, especially regarding deeper cuts to Medicaid and access to funds earmarked for rural hospitals—a critical issue that Mehmet Oz, Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, addressed in earlier White House meetings.

The most contentious issue for fiscal conservatives like Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) involves the additional deficits introduced in the Senate bill, which they argue violate previous budget agreements. These agreements stipulated that any new tax cuts should be offset by equivalent spending reductions.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise mentioned that the prolonged vote was partly due to delays caused by thunderstorms affecting members’ travel plans. Although two delayed members eventually arrived and voted, allowing the vote to potentially move forward, negotiations with the remaining holdouts continued.

As Capitol Hill waits in anticipation, GOP leaders remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached by Wednesday, setting the stage for a decisive rule vote to finally advance the bill.

*Benjamin Guggenheim, Lisa Kashinsky, and Calen Razor contributed to this report.*