WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to visit Capitol Hill early Tuesday to rally divided House Republicans around his ambitious "big, beautiful bill." This multitrillion-dollar legislative package is currently facing potential collapse ahead of important votes scheduled for this week. Trump's urgent appeal to GOP holdouts has been clear: “STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE.” However, negotiations have been slow, and the future of the package, which includes significant tax breaks and cuts to Medicaid and various welfare programs, remains uncertain, especially considering its slim support among House Republicans.
The package calls for an estimated $350 billion to be allocated towards Trump’s agenda for border security, deportation, and defense. Conservatives are demanding more aggressive cuts to federal programs to offset the substantial tax revenue losses. At the same time, some lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states are pushing for increased tax breaks for their constituents. There are strong concerns regarding the impact of the bill on the nation's $36 trillion debt, leading many to agree that additional time may be necessary to address these complex issues.
Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, stated, “These are complicated issues with trillions of dollars. We’ve got to do this thing right.” Trump’s upcoming address to House Republicans at their weekly conference meeting is a critical moment, challenging his abilities as a dealmaker. House Speaker Mike Johnson is keen to move the bill forward and is relying on Trump to provide either encouragement or warnings to gain momentum.
Given that House Democrats are firmly opposed to the package, GOP leaders cannot afford to lose any votes. A significant committee hearing is scheduled for early Tuesday, intending to set the stage for a vote on the House floor by Wednesday afternoon. Democrats have characterized the proposed legislation as a substantial benefit for the wealthy, detrimental to essential services such as health care and food assistance for Americans.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York criticized the timing of the hearing, questioning, “If this legislation is designed to make life better for the American people, can someone explain to me why they would hold a hearing to advance the bill at 1 a.m. in the morning?” Trump has been active in urging Republicans to consolidate their support behind what he views as his signature domestic policy initiative.
The sprawling 1,116-page legislative package, entitled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” aims to permanently extend tax breaks enacted during Trump’s first term while also introducing new ones, including provisions for exempting tips, automobile loan interest, and Social Security from taxes. Nevertheless, concerns about the bill’s escalating cost linger, especially as the economy faces precarious conditions.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan watchdog, estimates that the bill could add approximately $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Critics within the Republican Party point out that the bill’s new spending and tax cuts are front-loaded, while the proposed offsets are delayed, complicating its viability.
Some conservative Republicans are advocating for faster implementation of new work requirements for Medicaid, initially slated to begin in January 2029, with Majority Leader Steve Scalise suggesting a start date as early as 2027. According to the Congressional Budget Office, these Medicaid changes are projected to leave around 7.6 million fewer Americans with health insurance.
Meanwhile, Republican holdouts demand a quick cessation of green energy tax breaks established as part of the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, which currently support renewable energy initiatives across the country. However, any modifications Johnson contemplates to satisfy the hard-right conservatives risk alienating traditional and centrist Republicans, many of whom oppose the severe cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, as well as the reduction of clean energy tax credits.
The main aspects of the legislative package include extending existing income tax cuts and raising the standard deduction to $32,000 for joint filers, alongside elevating the child tax credit to $2,500. New York lawmakers are pushing for a more significant state and local tax deduction, seeking an increase to $62,000 for single filers and $124,000 for joint filers, in contrast to the proposed increase from $10,000 to $30,000 in the bill.
If the House ultimately passes the bill this week, it will progress to the Senate, where further modifications are anticipated. The coming days will be crucial as Republicans face internal dissent while navigating the intricacies of the ambitious legislative proposal.
