The Trump administration is pushing a bill called the “One Big Beautiful” bill through Congress. It includes a bunch of changes like stopping taxes on tips and overtime pay, expanding tax cuts, raising the child tax credit, and cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. Some Republicans support it, but others are unsure—especially since the bill would raise the national debt by $3.8 trillion by 2034, according to early estimates.
A Promise to Seniors: Lower Taxes
One part of the bill focuses on a promise Trump made earlier—to remove federal taxes from Social Security benefits for seniors. The bill doesn’t eliminate the tax, but it would give married seniors (65 and older) a larger tax break. If passed, it would raise the standard deduction to $35,200 with an extra $8,000 for seniors. This could help reduce the amount older couples owe in taxes.
The Senate Isn’t So Sure
Even though the House moved the bill forward quickly, the Senate is more cautious. Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin said there are enough Republicans to block the bill unless spending is better controlled. He wants the bill to be reviewed carefully, using Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” idea as an example of how to cut waste.
More Pushback from Republican Senators
Johnson isn’t alone. Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky called the spending cuts in the bill “weak” and said the bill would add too much to the debt. He said he might support it if it didn’t increase the deficit so much. Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri also criticized the bill and said the Senate would likely create its own version instead.
Medicaid Cuts Are a Big Concern
One of the biggest complaints is about the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Under the current bill, about 8.6 million people could lose their health coverage. Senator Hawley said he does not support any cuts to Medicaid and wants to make sure people keep their benefits.
