Congress Greenlights One Big Beautiful Bill
After days of intense behind-the-scenes pressure, the House approved President Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending package by a narrow 218-214 vote. Branded the One Big Beautiful Bill, it pairs $4 trillion in tax relief with $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and heads to the president’s desk for a July 4 signing.
Breaking Down the Bill
- Tax Cuts: $4 trillion in relief over the next decade, including exemptions on overtime pay, tips and higher estate and gift-tax thresholds.
- Medicaid Cuts: Nearly $1 trillion shaved off coverage, potentially leaving up to 12 million Americans without health insurance.
- SNAP Tightening: Raises the minimum age for food aid eligibility from 54 to 64, reducing funding by $230 billion over 10 years.
- Clean Energy Rollback: Trims incentives for green infrastructure and electric vehicles.
- Debt Ceiling Increase: Raises the federal cap by $5 trillion, directing savings toward military and border security.
Projected Impact
The Congressional Budget Office warns the bill could add $3.4 trillion to the U.S. deficit over a decade. Analysts estimate up to 17 million could lose coverage, and hundreds of rural hospitals may close. Polls show 49% of Americans oppose the legislation, citing concerns about rising deficits and harm to lower-income families.
Reactions and Next Steps
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for nearly nine hours to stall the vote, calling the bill a ‘disgusting abomination.’ President Biden labeled it ‘not only reckless—it’s cruel.’ Trump, however, hailed it as a historic achievement.
Looking ahead, the 2026 midterms are in focus. Republican moderates fear voter backlash, while Democrats aim to leverage public opposition to flip the House. Two GOP lawmakers—Rep. Don Bacon and Sen. Thom Tillis—have already announced retirements after clashing with the White House, potentially shifting the balance of power.
What’s Next?
As the law takes effect on Independence Day, attention will turn to its real-world fallout: the health of the U.S. economy, the federal deficit and the political tides ahead.
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U.S. Congress narrowly passes Trump's flagship megabill. What's next?
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