(The Center Square) – The Thursday passage of President Donald Trump’s multitrillion-dollar ‘big, beautiful bill’ drew both praise and panic from lawmakers and budget organizations.
The massive budget reconciliation bill, which will add an estimated net $4.1 trillion to the primary deficit over the next decade, implements the bulk of the president’s policy agenda, including the codification of his 2017 tax cuts.
It also hikes the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, implements cost-saving reforms to Medicaid and SNAP, funds construction of a southern border wall, phases out solar and wind subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act, and boosts fossil fuel energy production, among other things.
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, called the bill “the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history.”
“This Big Beautiful Bill delivers the greatest single investment in border security and national defense; the largest tax cuts for families and small businesses; the most significant commitment to unlocking America’s energy resources; and the largest reduction in spending in the history of the United States,” Arrington stated, referring to the bills’ $1.7 trillion in savings.
Republican leaders had a difficult time getting all Republicans on board with the bill, particularly the House Freedom Caucus, who objected to the Senate’s controversial and unprecedented use of the current policy baseline that papered over the cost of permanent tax cut extension.
The Senate-amended bill eventually passed the House in a 218-214 vote, as The Center Square reported. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote no on the bill.
“Although there were some conservative wins in the budget reconciliation bill (OBBBA), I voted No on final passage because it will significantly increase U.S. budget deficits in the near term, negatively impacting all Americans through sustained inflation and high interest rates,” Massie posted on X.
The majority of budget watchdogs share Massie’s concerns, particularly over the use of the current policy baseline to score the cost of the tax cuts – a move that forever changes budget reconciliation precedent.
“Congress has put our country’s economic well-being in great danger and raised the risk of a serious debt crisis,” Carolyn Bordeaux from Concord Action said in a statement. “In the process of passing this bill, Congress has broken the budget process and shattered vital, longstanding norms designed to ensure a sober, responsible approach to policymaking.”
The national debt is currently $36 trillion and is projected to surpass $50 trillion in 10 years.
Democrats, all of whom voted against the bill, unleashed heavy criticism on social media following the legislation’s passage.
Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., called the bill “a grave turning point” for the country and “a disgrace.” Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., dubbed it “the largest self-inflicted wounds to working families and to our economy in our nation’s history.”
“They’ll regret this vote,” Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said, referring to his Republican colleagues.
The bill now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature on Friday, July 4, meeting Republicans’ self-imposed Independence Day deadline.
“Congrats to everyone. At times I even doubted we’d get it done by July 4!” Vice President J.D. Vance posted on X. “But now we’ve delivered big tax cuts and the resources necessary to secure the border. Promises made, promises kept!”
