U.S. Congress Approves Trump's $4.5 Trillion Domestic Policy Bill

In a significant legislative maneuver, the U.S. Congress has passed President Donald Trump's expansive domestic policy bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The House of Representatives finalized the legislation with a narrow vote of 218 to 214 on Thursday afternoon, marking a pivotal moment in Trump's second term. The bill encompasses a wide range of policies, including substantial tax breaks, increased funding for immigration enforcement, and cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law at a White House ceremony scheduled for Friday, coinciding with the Fourth of July holiday, a deadline he set for the Republican caucus.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is projected to add approximately $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, as it allocates significant funding for Trump's key agenda items, including $46 billion for border wall construction, $45 billion for immigration detention facilities, and $14 billion aimed at enhancing deportation efforts. These provisions represent a substantial increase in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is anticipated to nearly triple its workforce and budget.

In addition to immigration enforcement, the bill seeks to make permanent the tax cuts first implemented during Trump’s administration in 2017, while providing temporary tax relief for tipped workers and enhancing child tax credits. However, to offset these expenditures, the legislation proposes cuts exceeding $1.3 trillion from healthcare and food assistance programs. Notably, the cuts will affect Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that nearly 12 million Americans may lose their healthcare and approximately 4.7 million could lose food assistance.

The controversial bill has ignited fierce debate within Congress, primarily along party lines. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a marathon speech lasting over eight hours, condemning the legislation as detrimental to the health and welfare of millions of Americans. He argued that the cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs could lead to significant loss of life, describing the bill as a 'crime scene' for those most vulnerable.

Democratic leaders have pointed to analyses conducted by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which indicate that approximately 70 percent of the bill's tax benefits would disproportionately favor the wealthiest 10 percent of income earners. This assertion has added fuel to the Democratic narrative that the legislation contradicts Trump’s earlier promises to protect healthcare and support working-class Americans.

Conversely, Republicans have framed the bill as a fulfillment of Trump's central campaign promises, emphasizing the tax cuts and immigration reforms as vital to national security and economic growth. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has advocated for the bill by highlighting its benefits for border security and military funding, which includes $125 billion in defense spending.

As the bill heads to the President for signing, it remains to be seen how the public will respond. A recent Quinnipiac University poll indicates that a majority of respondents, 55 percent, oppose the bill, while only 29 percent support it. This divide poses potential risks for Republicans as they prepare for the upcoming elections, with the Democratic party likely to leverage the negative impacts of the legislation on their constituents.

In a notable political fallout, the bill has also created rifts within Republican support, as prominent figures like Elon Musk, who previously invested heavily in Republican campaigns, have voiced concerns over the bill’s spending and cuts to electric vehicle subsidies. Musk's discontent has raised speculation about his future political ambitions, potentially signaling a shift in the political landscape for the GOP.

In summary, the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents a watershed moment in Trump’s presidency, encapsulating the complexities and divisions within American politics today. As the implications of the bill unfold, both parties will engage in a fierce battle to frame the narrative leading into the 2024 elections.