Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill passes Congress in big win for US President
The House of Representatives Thursday narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending package, delivering a significant legislative victory to the Republican President in his second term. The 218–214 vote sends the 869-page bill to Trump’s desk for signing on Friday, the July 4 holiday.
The legislation, which has already cleared the Senate with Vice President J D Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, is set to make permanent the 2017 tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term, while delivering new tax breaks and enacting deep cuts to federal safety net programs.
The bill is expected to add $3.4 trillion to the nation’s $36.2 trillion debt, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). It lowers tax revenues by an estimated $4.5 trillion over the next decade while cutting federal spending by $1.1 trillion — primarily through reductions to Medicaid.
Despite concerns within the Republican ranks over its fiscal impact, only two GOP lawmakers — Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — voted against the bill. Massie said the bill did not go far enough in cutting spending.
Democrats unanimously opposed the legislation, criticising it as a windfall for the wealthy that would leave millions without access to healthcare.
“The focus of this bill, the justification for all of the cuts that will hurt everyday Americans, is to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires,” said Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic leader, who spoke for eight hours and 46 minutes — the longest speech in House history.
Republicans, by contrast, praised the legislation as a major economic stimulus. “This is jet fuel for the economy, and all boats are going to rise,” said Speaker Mike Johnson.
What does the bill aim to do?
The bill expands tax benefits for parents, seniors, overtime workers, and those earning tipped income, fulfilling a number of Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges. It also includes a five-year, $50 billion fund for rural health providers, aimed at offsetting anticipated fallout from Medicaid cuts. However, the CBO projected that nearly 12 million people would lose coverage under the bill’s tightened eligibility and work requirements.
The bill also eliminates dozens of green energy incentives and rolls back federal funding mechanisms used by states to draw down higher Medicaid payments. Analysts quoted by a news agency say the wealthiest Americans stand to benefit most, while lower-income households could see an effective decline in income as cuts to safety net programs outweigh modest tax relief.
The package raises the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion, avoiding a default in the near term. Yet concerns remain among economists and global investors about the long-term impact on US creditworthiness. Moody’s downgraded US debt in May, citing the unsustainable fiscal outlook.
During the final days of debate, Republicans removed provisions that had drawn opposition from investors, including a retaliatory tax on foreign investment and language curbing state-level regulation of artificial intelligence.
What has Trump said on the bill?
Trump maintained intense pressure on lawmakers throughout the process. “FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!” he wrote on social media during the final negotiations.
The measure is expected to figure prominently in the 2026 midterm elections, with Democrats seeking to reclaim at least one chamber of Congress. While many of the most controversial spending cuts are scheduled to take effect after that election, Republicans argue that the bill’s immediate tax relief will spur economic growth.
Trump is scheduled to sign the bill into law at 5 pm Eastern Time on Friday.
