The U.S. Senate is locked in a tense final push to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping $4.5 trillion spending bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The legislation aims to extend Trump’s first-term tax cuts, ramp up military spending, and fund controversial mass deportation plans. But with 2026 midterm elections looming, the bill has ignited deep divisions among lawmakers and the public.
At the heart of the controversy is the bill’s projected impact on the federal deficit and healthcare access for low-income Americans. Nonpartisan analysts warn that it would increase the national deficit by over $3.3 trillion over the next decade while cutting nearly $1 trillion in subsidized healthcare. Nearly 12 million Americans could lose insurance coverage by 2034 due to significant reductions to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s strong influence over the Republican Party has given the bill traction in the Senate, where the GOP holds a narrow majority. All Senate Democrats are expected to oppose it, and even two Republican senators voted against it in a procedural vote, signaling internal discord.
Progress in the Senate has been slow, with only 14 amendments addressed during the first seven hours of a marathon “vote-a-rama” session. The bill’s passage in the Senate would only mark half the battle; it must also survive a contentious vote in the House of Representatives. There, moderate Republicans have expressed concern over healthcare cuts, while hardline fiscal conservatives argue the bill doesn’t go far enough in reducing spending.
Public opinion is starkly against the bill, with polls labeling it one of the most unpopular proposals in recent history across all income and age groups. Billionaire Elon Musk, once close to Trump, condemned the bill’s massive spending and deficit increase, calling for the formation of a new political party.
Chinese scholar Diao Daming described the internal U.S. conflict over the bill as emblematic of deeper national dysfunction. He warned the bill could fuel domestic inequality and global instability, especially with its heavy focus on expanding military expenditure.
A critical House vote is expected as early as Wednesday.
