The White House on Wednesday mounted a strong defense of President Donald Trump’s sweeping policy bill, brushing off dire warnings from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and intensifying criticism from tech billionaire Elon Musk.
At the heart of the controversy is Trump’s proposed “one big, beautiful bill,” a cornerstone of his domestic agenda that aims to extend the 2017 tax cuts while slashing social welfare programs. The non-partisan CBO estimates the legislation would add $2.4 trillion to the U.S. deficit by 2034 an assessment the White House swiftly dismissed.
Russ Vought, head of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters that the CBO’s projection “does not reflect reality,” asserting that the administration’s own analysis paints a much more favorable fiscal picture.
Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller took a more combative tone, labeling the CBO as “lefty” on social media, echoing a familiar narrative from the Trump camp that paints critics and independent institutions as biased.
The bill’s potential to reshape Trump’s legacy and influence Republican prospects in the 2026 midterms has heightened tensions in Washington. Despite passing the House of Representatives last week, the legislation faces stiff opposition in the Senate, where negotiations have reached a critical juncture.
Elon Musk, who recently resigned from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency amid growing friction with the Trump team, has emerged as one of the bill’s most vocal critics. On Wednesday, Musk posted “KILL the BILL” on his X platform, pairing it with a meme from the film Kill Bill. A day earlier, he called the bill a “disgusting abomination.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune sought to counter the deficit concerns, stating, “We believe the opposite,” and emphasized the urgency of passing the bill. “Failure is not an option,” he said after a meeting at the White House.
Trump is pushing for a Senate vote by July 4, but with growing dissent—even from within conservative circles—the bill’s future remains uncertain.
