President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is effectively “under construction” in the Senate, with major revisions anticipated as Republican senators push for significant changes to the House-passed legislation. The bill’s ambitious scope and projected costs are facing considerable internal resistance.
The bill, which includes tax cuts, increased border and military spending, and reductions in Medicaid, is moving through the reconciliation process, allowing for a simple majority vote. However, the narrow Republican majority means that senators like Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, driven by fiscal concerns, can force substantial alterations.
The Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of a $3.8 trillion increase in the deficit over ten years due to the bill’s tax provisions is a central point of contention. This has fueled calls for a more fiscally conservative approach, with Johnson suggesting a return to pre-pandemic spending levels and even splitting the bill.
The controversial Medicaid cuts are also drawing scrutiny. Additionally, the Byrd Rule could strip out non-budgetary provisions related to AI regulations, judicial power, or gun control, ensuring that the bill sent back to the House for final approval will likely be a considerably different version.