The GOP grows more critical of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”

A growing number of prominent Republicans are pushing back against some or all components of the massive tax and spending bill making its way through Congress.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed the House in a 215-214 vote last month, includes a permanent extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, funding for border security, and Medicaid reforms, among other things.

The debt dilemma

At least four Republican senators have expressed concerns over Trump's bill due to its projected impact on America’s national debt:

• The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the measure will add ~$2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade—on top of the $21 trillion in additional deficits already forecast through 2034.
• The US government currently owes $36.2 trillion, with interest payments eclipsing $1 trillion/year for the first time in 2024 (more than spending on defense or Medicare).

On the flip side: White House officials cast doubt on the CBO’s estimate, saying the group uses “shoddy assumptions.” OMB Director Russ Vought says the Trump-backed bill would actually reduce budget deficits by $1.4 trillion, as the CBO’s estimate “fundamentally misreads the economic consequences” of not extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.

Some Republicans are critical of other areas: Several House lawmakers who voted for the bill say they now oppose it after being made aware of certain line items, like a clause that would prevent states from regulating AI for the next 10 years, or another that would limit judges’ power to hold people in contempt for violating court orders.

Elon Musk has also joined the fray: In a series of social media posts this week, the world’s richest man aggressively condemned Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”—and also took several shots at the President himself yesterday, including calling for his impeachment and claiming Trump “is in the Epstein files.”

Looking ahead…Senate Republicans have only three votes to spare as they look to approve the bill. If the Senate makes any changes prior to approval, the bill must be sent back to the House for a final vote before reaching President Trump, who aims to sign it by July 4.