Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Passes House After Marathon Debate
- Southerton Business Times
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Reporter
The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s signature tax-and-spending package—popularly dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—in a narrow 218–214 vote on Thursday. The legislation combines sweeping tax cuts with major spending reductions, marking the first major legislative triumph of Trump’s second term and claiming to lift the debt ceiling by $5 trillion.
Key Provisions and Fiscal Impact
The bill includes:
Permanent extensions of the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts, including new deductions on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits;
Expansion of the state and local tax (SALT) deductions cap, set to rise from $10,000 to $40,000 temporarily;
A debt ceiling increase of $5 trillion to prevent a government default.
To fund these measures, the bill cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, slashes $185–$300 billion from SNAP, and rolls back clean energy tax credits introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act. Though estimated to add $3–4 trillion to the national debt over a decade, Republicans argue it boosts economic growth, border security, and defense .
Immigration and Defense Spending
The bill allocates roughly $170 billion to immigration enforcement, funding border walls, ICE expansion, and deportation efforts. Another $160 billion is earmarked for defense, including the “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative.
Partisan Response and Democratic Criticism
Democrats unanimously opposed the measure, joined by Reps. Thomas Massie (KY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a record-breaking near-29-hour speech decrying the bill as a "deal with the devil" that “explodes our debt” and strips away healthcare and dignity. Critics—including Sen. Bernie Sanders—warned that Medicaid and SNAP cuts could result in thousands of avoidable deaths annually .
Next Steps
The bill now moves to the White House for President Trump’s signature, with the president aiming to sign before July 4. Implementation will begin immediately, reshaping the federal tax, healthcare, and social assistance landscape.
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