“Big Beautiful Bill”: What’s The Truth?

Republicans are calling it a game-changer. Democrats are calling it spending gone wild. But one thing is clear: the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), as President Donald Trump named it, is the most sweeping legislative package in years, and it’s barreling toward passage before July 4. It passed its first vote hurdle on Friday.

There’s a tremendous amount of opinion about the legislation and many of the claims are clearly out of step with what it actually says. Here’s a detailed look at what’s inside the 940-page bill, according to numerous news sources, along with reactions and facts about how it’s paid for—and what it doesn’t do.

No Tax Hike—2017 Cuts Made Permanent

The bill’s core aim is simple: prevent a massive tax increase at the end of the year by extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanently. Without this bill, the cuts expire in 2026.

“This legislation will avoid a massive tax increase on Texas families,” said Sen. John Cornyn, as reported by Fox News.

Key tax highlights:

• Individual and corporate tax rates stay low
• Overtime and tip income becomes tax-exempt
• Boosted SALT deductions, especially for seniors
• Child tax credits and business expensing extended

Visa Fee Increases to Pay for Border and Defense

The bill raises visa and entry fees on foreign travelers, generating billions in new revenue. That money is earmarked specifically to fund:

• Border wall completion
• Hiring of 8,500 new border agents and deportation officers
• Drug interdiction equipment and fentanyl detection
• Military modernization, including missile defense and the Space Force

As The White House put it: “The only new spending is to secure the homeland—paid for by increased visa fees on foreigners.” No earmarks or “pork” were included.

Massive Boost to the Military Budget

Defense gets one of the biggest lifts:

• $150 billion increase in total military spending
• $25 billion for missile defense, including the “Golden Dome” system
• $13.5 billion for the Space Force to expand R&D and space-based missile detection

SpaceNews reports this is the first time such defense funding has been included in reconciliation, ensuring it can’t be filibustered.

Medicare Not Cut—Growth Slowed

Despite Democrat claims, Medicare benefits are not cut. Instead, the bill slows the rate of growth after the program more than doubled in cost over the past five years. It slows the rate of growth to 6% year over year for the first two years, then 4% per year following.

“The bill aims to cut Medicare and Medicaid spending by about $2 trillion over the next decade,” Kiplinger reports. “But it does not reduce current Medicare benefits.”

Key reforms:

• Allows Medicare recipients with Part A to keep contributing to HSAs
• Cracks down on improper payments
• Reduces overbilling and administrative waste

Medicaid Reform, Not Elimination

The bill tightens eligibility for Medicaid without cutting core services. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the legislation could eventually reduce enrollment by 10 million, including:

• Able-bodied adults without dependents. The system now has young men of working age, without any disabilities or dependents, on the rolls than ever before. Most were added during covid and since.
• Some dual-eligible enrollees (Medicare + Medicaid)

The GOP frames this as program integrity, not austerity.

No Pork Projects, Period

Unlike previous budget deals, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” contains zero earmarks or district-specific giveaways.

Every dollar of new spending is linked to core Republican priorities: tax relief, defense, border security, and entitlement reform. Even Trump critics like Sen. Mike Lee have praised the bill’s restraint in avoiding pork.

Other Provisions: AI Oversight, Legal Reform, Seniors’ SALT Deduction

The bill quietly includes other notable measures:

• AI regulation framework to guide federal use and private-sector transparency
• Limitations on court-issued contempt powers to prevent “overreach,” especially in civil litigation
• SALT deduction boost for seniors: Up to $4,000 for those earning under $75,000 annually, according to the BBC

BBC also described the bill as “broad in scope but laser-focused in priorities,” and noted the unusually disciplined structure.

Deficit Impact: GOP Says Paid For, CBO Disagrees

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could add $3.2 to $3.9 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years.

Republicans argue the CBO is using outdated models that do not take into account modern tax structures or increased revenue from tariffs. Other studies say it cuts the deficit over the long haul. Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore insists: “With growth, fraud reduction, and visa revenues, we believe the net deficit effect will be near zero within a decade.”

Why the Rush Before July 4?

There’s strategy at play: GOP leaders are aiming to pass the bill before Independence Day to:

• Avoid a separate debt ceiling fight
• Maximize political momentum
• Frame the legislation as a patriotic reset

“It’s more than a budget. It’s a message: America’s priorities are back in order,” said House Majority Leader Elise Stefanik.

Final Word

Supporters see this as Trump’s legacy-defining legislation—a bill that:

• Keeps taxes low
• Funds the military and the border
• Reins in unsustainable entitlement growth (there are now 50% more people on Medicare than in 2020)
• Cuts nothing from Medicare or Medicaid benefits
• Pays for itself with foreign-paid visa hikes
• Avoids Washington’s pork-barrel spending
• Raises the deficit temporarily until other revenue directives come on-line

And if it passes in time, Republicans will have something concrete to bring back to voters—without the mess of a government shutdown or backroom earmarks.

Sources and Backlinks

• Fox News – Tax relief and GOP reaction
• BBC – SALT deduction for seniors, AI reforms
• SpaceNews – Military and Space Force funding
• Kiplinger – Medicare reforms, no benefit cuts
• Kaiser Family Foundation – Medicaid impact and cost reductions
• White House Fact Sheet – Official policy positions and rebuttals
• Wall Street Journal – Internal GOP debates and procedural outlook
• WBUR – Civil contempt reform, AI provisions
• Investopedia – Policy analysis and market impact

–Metro Voice and our AI Assistant Luke. We used Luke to review thousands of published reports about the spending bill and give it to us in an easy-to-read, short format using sources on both sides of the aisle. We then verfied the information using our in-house editors to ensure accuracy. If you find this type of approach to an in-depth issue, let us know.