Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ projected to add a big, unbeautiful $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade

The One Big Beautiful Bill, or "Big Ugly Bill" as Democrats refer to it, is the sweeping package of tax breaks, social service cuts, and immigration enforcement that President Donald Trump signed into law. The legislation has seen mixed results, with millions of people receiving enhanced tax breaks while others lose access to federal food aid and healthcare. More immigrants are being arrested, many deported, and some even dying during the process.

Tax breaks for millions of taxpayers were a major accomplishment of the bill, with some 7.5 million filers claiming no tax on tipped income, 29 million people claiming no tax on overtime, and 35 million taking the enhanced senior deduction. The tax breaks averaged $2,300 per person, but the benefits have been uneven, with larger gains at the upper incomes. Actual refunds were up by about $350 on average, an 11% increase.

Cuts to SNAP food aid and healthcare programs brought about by the bill are estimated to chip away over $1 trillion from these programs, resulting in fewer people enrolled and more resources for wealthier individuals. Participation in SNAP has dropped in every state, and more than 800,000 children are no longer receiving aid in at least 13 states. Medicaid will soon face a work requirement, which is projected to leave more than 7 million people without health insurance.

The bill also provided $350 billion for the Defense and Homeland Security departments, significantly boosting agency budgets. The Pentagon received a $150 billion boost, while Homeland Security got $175 billion, primarily to support immigration enforcement and deportation efforts. Deficits are expected to rise, with the bill increasing the national debt by $3.4 trillion over the next decade.