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Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Becomes Law—With a $3.3 Trillion Price Tag and a Side of Y.M.C.A.

In a fireworks-worthy finish just before the Fourth of July, House Republicans squeezed through President Donald Trump’s massive second-term economic package—a nearly 900-page blend of tax breaks, safety net cuts, and political theater—by a razor-thin 218-214 vote. Dubbed the “one big beautiful bill” by Trump loyalists and the “big ugly bill” by Democrats, the legislation now heads to the president’s desk for signature Friday.

The package locks in $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, including the extension of Trump’s 2017 cuts and a few shiny new ones—like deductions for tips, overtime, and a $6,000 write-off for older Americans earning under $75,000. But to help pay for it, it slashes $1.2 trillion from Medicaid and food stamps, with stricter work requirements even for some seniors and parents. Green energy tax credits also took a hit, while $350 billion was earmarked for national security priorities, including Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

Still, the math isn’t exactly red, white, and balanced. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will add $3.3 trillion to the national deficit over 10 years and leave 11.8 million more Americans without health coverage.

Republicans cheered, danced to “Y.M.C.A.,” and flashed MAGA thumbs-ups after the vote, declaring a generational conservative win. House Speaker Mike Johnson invoked Trump’s signature bravado: “You get tired of winning yet?”

Democrats were less festive. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries set a record with an 8-hour, 44-minute speech calling the bill a “crime scene” that sacrifices health and food security for millions. “We want no part of it,” Jeffries said, invoking stories from Americans who depend on the very programs being cut.

With Democrats unanimously opposed and a couple of Republican defectors—Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania—the bill barely survived. The Senate passed it earlier with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie.

In the end, the political cost may prove steep. Trump’s machine reportedly warned GOP skeptics, and Sen. Thom Tillis, after voting no, announced he wouldn’t seek reelection. But with tax cuts locked in, green subsidies rolled back, and entitlements trimmed, Republicans say they’ve delivered. Whether voters agree—or just remember the Village People moment—remains to be seen.