The US Senate will begin voting on a massive spending plan, dubbed the "big beautiful bill", on Monday after weeks of contentious negotiations. Republicans - who control both chambers of Congress - were divided over how much to cut welfare programmes in order to extend tax breaks.

The Senate on Monday morning began a "vote-a-rama" on proposed amendments to President Donald Trump's megabill for his second term priorities. It comes after a rare weekend session for senators, which included a dramatic 51-49 procedural vote on Saturday night to advance the massive tax and immigration bill and a forced reading of the 940-page bill by Democrats.