Credited from: DAWN
On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed his landmark tax and spending legislation into law, showcasing it as a monumental achievement of his administration. During a celebratory ceremony at the White House, which included a military flyover, Trump proclaimed, "America is winning, winning, winning like never before," signaling his optimism about the future economic impact of the bill, which he dubbed the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" according to thejakartapost and bbc.
The sweeping legislation, which passed Congress by a narrow margin of 218-214, is set to extend tax cuts from Trump's previous term, increase military spending, and provide substantial funding for immigration enforcement. However, it also includes significant cuts to social welfare programs, including $1 trillion in reductions to Medicaid, which are expected to affect approximately 12 million Americans, as reported by HuffPost and Al Jazeera.
While Trump and Republican leaders celebrated the passage, the bill faced severe backlash from Democrats and some within the GOP, who feared the impacts on the national debt and on vulnerable populations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made national headlines by delivering a marathon speech opposing the bill, emphasizing that it would lead to harmful outcomes for American families, particularly those reliant on Medicaid and food assistance, according to India Times and Dawn.
The bill's passage has raised concerns regarding its fiscal responsibility, expected to add approximately $3.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, a point of contention highlighted by various analysts, including the Congressional Budget Office. Critics argue the legislation favors wealthy Americans while undermining support for lower-income individuals, as supported by analysis from the Tax Policy Center, which indicates that over 60% of the tax benefits will go to those earning more than $217,000 per year, according to HuffPost, India Times, and Al Jazeera.
Amidst this backdrop, Trump's administration hopes that the bill will serve as a catalyst for economic growth, allowing him to rally support from within his party, while also preparing for potential fallout during the 2026 midterm elections as negative sentiments around the cuts to essential services linger among constituents, as mentioned in reports from thejakartapost and bbc.