The Trump admin’s done what it can through executive orders. But it needs help from Congress.
But Congress has Donald Trump’s fate in their hands depending on how this hot fight settles.
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Is a Republican Triumph—But Congress Must Act Fast or Risk 2026 Midterm Disaster
President Donald Trump’s relentless push for his “One Big Beautiful Bill” has delivered a legislative package that fulfills decades of conservative dreams, from massive tax cuts to ironclad border security. Passed with Trump’s personal lobbying on Tuesday, this bill is a make-or-break moment for Republicans. With the 2026 midterms looming, the GOP must seize this opportunity to govern decisively and show voters they can deliver—or face the consequences of a frustrated base and electoral losses.
The bill’s passage is a testament to Trump’s vision, but it’s not out of the woods yet. Speaker Mike Johnson spent Tuesday night navigating a minefield of GOP demands, particularly over the State and Local Taxes (SALT) deduction cap. Blue-state Republicans, pushing for a higher cap than the bill’s tripling from $10,000 to $30,000, reached a tentative agreement with Johnson late Tuesday. Meanwhile, fiscal hawks are being asked to trust that Trump’s DOGE-infused, regulation-slashing team will deliver more than the $1.6 trillion in spending cuts already baked into the legislation over the next decade.
For conservatives like Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, supporting the bill requires a pragmatic leap of faith. “Look as a conservative, I want to save as much money as I can, and we have pushed for that in the Republican Study Committee,” Pfluger said. “But the President was pretty clear that we’ve worked five or six months straight on this, and it is time to get it done.” He acknowledges the hunger for deeper cuts but emphasizes the need to govern. “That doesn’t mean that a guy like me doesn’t want more. Yes, of course I do. But I also want to govern, which means you don’t get 100% of everything you want every single time. You have to come back and do it again, and we will.”
The bill’s scope is staggering, checking off conservative priorities that have languished for years. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is urging his colleagues to shout its virtues from the rooftops. “What I think we really need to be doing as Republicans, is talking about how good this bill is,” Jordan said Monday. “I mean, there’s a reason Democrats hate it. Democrats hate it because it’s all about Republican principles. We’re the party that says cut taxes. We’re the party that says secure the border. We’re the party that says we should require work for able-bodied adults who are getting taxpayer money. This bill does all three of those.”
On taxes, the bill delivers the largest cuts in American history, putting an average of $5,000 back in taxpayers’ pockets through a double-digit reduction in rates. It includes Trump’s signature “No Tax On Tips,” “No Tax On Overtime,” and “No Tax On Social Security” provisions, directly addressing the financial burdens felt by working-class Americans. The White House’s Office of Communications emphasized these cuts in a detailed email, listing 20 reasons why Republicans must rally behind the package to show voters they’re serious about economic relief.
Border security, a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda, gets a historic boost. The bill funds “Big, Beautiful Deportations,” allocating resources for at least one million annual deportations of illegal immigrants. It also completes Trump’s border wall, a project started in his first term, and bolsters immigration enforcement with 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 customs officers, and 3,000 Border Patrol agents. Frontline border workers will receive $10,000 bonuses, a nod to their critical role in securing the nation.
The bill also protects Medicaid by removing at least 1.4 million illegal migrants from its rolls, saving taxpayer dollars. Starting in January 2029, it mandates work requirements for able-bodied Americans receiving benefits, aligning with Republican values of personal responsibility. These measures, the White House argues, reverse decades of fiscal irresponsibility and prioritize American citizens.
Spending cuts are another major win. The bill delivers $1.6 trillion in mandatory spending reductions over the next decade, the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind., highlighted the potential for even more savings through rescission packages. “He [Trump] can do that through rescission packages, which we would expect that he’ll be sending us some rescissions here sometime later on this year,” Yakym said, pointing to further cuts planned for this summer and fall.
Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Col., noted that conservatives are already achieving deeper cuts through the appropriations process. “I think we’ve already seen some of that happen already. In the reconciliation process, you actually have to pass the bill twice. The first time you pass the bill, you’re setting those top line numbers for how much either cuts or spending is going to occur under those committees of jurisdiction,” Evans explained. “But then when you come through and you actually build the policies to meet those top line numbers, there’s no mandate that you actually have to spend all of the money that you’re allocated.” Treating appropriations as ceilings, not floors, gives Trump’s team flexibility to spend less when efficiencies are found.
The bill also tackles cultural and economic issues head-on. It ends taxpayer-funded “gender transition” procedures for minors, a policy pushed under the Biden administration, and repeals Biden’s climate change spending, which Republicans call the “Green New Scam.” This includes scrapping electric vehicle mandates and corporate welfare subsidies, freeing businesses from burdensome regulations.
For families, the bill introduces “MAGA Accounts” for newborns, allowing parents to save for their children’s future. It also boosts the child tax credit and strengthens paid family leave, offering tangible support for working parents. In the gig economy, it eliminates the IRS reporting requirement for transactions over $600 on platforms like Venmo and PayPal, a win for freelancers and small business owners.
Family farmers, a key Republican constituency, benefit from over $10 billion in tax cuts and the elimination of estate taxes that often prevent farms from being passed down through generations. These provisions resonate with rural voters, a critical bloc for the GOP heading into 2026.
The bill also modernizes air traffic control, addressing recent accidents and near-misses with a complete overhaul of the system. This pragmatic reform shows Republicans tackling real-world problems while staying true to their principles.
Republicans now face a critical juncture. The bill’s passage is a victory, but infighting over details like SALT deductions or spending cuts could fracture the party. With midterms approaching, voters are watching closely. If the GOP fails to unite and deliver on Trump’s agenda, they risk alienating their base and handing Democrats an opening in 2026.
To avoid this, Republicans must move swiftly to pass and promote this bill, showcasing its conservative wins to voters. The alternative—gridlock and division—could cost them dearly at the ballot box.
