House Republicans are working deep into the night this week in a legislative marathon to pass former President Trump’s ambitious tax and spending bill — a push that, metaphorically, channels the somber stillness of Edward Hopper’s famous 1942 painting Nighthawks.
Much like the isolated figures in Hopper’s late-night diner scene, members of Congress now find themselves huddled in the Capitol at off-hours, quietly grinding through long sessions with distant eyes and heavy schedules. But instead of coffee and cigarettes, it’s committee meetings and parliamentary maneuvers fueling their late-night efforts.
The campaign to pass what Trump has called his “big, beautiful bill” resumed after a temporary setback late last week. The House Budget Committee reconvened at 10:26 p.m. ET on Sunday to reconsider the measure — a sweeping package of tax cuts and spending reductions. Thirteen minutes later, it narrowly advanced the legislation in a 17-16 vote, with four Republicans voting “present,” exposing some lingering internal divisions.
From there, the action moved to the House Rules Committee, which announced a pre-dawn session set for 1 a.m. ET Wednesday to finalize the bill’s path to the House floor. It’s the latest sign that Republican leadership is embracing an all-hours, no-rest-until-it’s-done strategy to meet key deadlines and rally support.
This unconventional schedule mirrors the pressure cooker of Capitol Hill when major legislation hangs in the balance. Last week, the Energy and Commerce Committee worked 26 hours straight. Now, the Rules Committee may spend the entire day — and possibly night — Wednesday fielding amendments and preparing the package for debate.
Late-night meetings are both strategic and procedural. Democrats are guaranteed two full days to submit their views following the Budget Committee’s action, which concluded just before midnight Sunday. Only after that window closes can the Rules Committee formally convene. Hence, the early-morning Wednesday session — announced just after 12:01 a.m. ET — is designed to maximize efficiency while also controlling the pace of debate.
Yet there are practical politics at play, too. Fewer lawmakers are likely to show up at 1 a.m., potentially streamlining the amendment process. And should the bill clear Rules, votes on the House floor could follow at any hour, depending on when leadership believes they have secured the necessary support.
Behind the scenes, negotiations continue — especially over contentious issues like state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Some Republicans from high-tax states are pushing for relief on SALT caps and are slated to meet with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) late Monday evening. Whether those concerns will be resolved before the final vote remains uncertain.
Friday’s initial failure in the Budget Committee highlighted fractures within the GOP. Several members cited concerns over the scope of spending cuts, the structure of green energy tax incentives, and Medicaid work requirements. One of them, Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.), strategically voted “no” to preserve the right to request a revote — a maneuver that ultimately helped revive the measure.
Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) saw Sunday night’s approval as progress. “Calling a vote moves the process forward. I think it’s a catalyst,” he said after Friday’s setback.
Still, not all previous opponents flipped. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who voted against the bill Friday, cast a “present” vote Sunday night, acknowledging momentum but warning more must be done to address federal deficits. “There’s so much more that we have to do to rein in government,” he said Monday on FOX Business.
Whether this overnight legislative sprint leads to success remains to be seen. Republicans may still revise the bill, adjust its fiscal contours, or strike new compromises. But one thing is clear: the path to passage will not follow a traditional clock.
As lawmakers drift through quiet corridors, debating line items and brokering last-minute deals under fluorescent lights, the atmosphere is one of quiet endurance — much like Hopper’s diner dwellers, stoic and still, waiting for daylight.
The House could vote as early as Wednesday, or perhaps in the dead of night Thursday or Friday. The outcome is uncertain. The timeline is fluid. But for now, House Republicans are pressing forward — through the night — in hopes of delivering a legislative victory before dawn.
