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Cracks are beginning to form in the Republican-controlled Senate as some GOP lawmakers are openly rebelling against President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Some shit you should know before you read: A few weeks back, House Speaker Mike Johnson brought forward President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill“ through the House, which is a sweeping legislative package that combines tax policy extensions, spending priorities, and deficit reduction measures. The bill seeks to permanently extend the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts, increase the Pentagon’s budget to over $1 trillion, boost border security spending, and implement over $1.5 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade. Specifically, the bill includes cuts to Medicaid, SNAP (food assistance), education grants, and various federal workforce programs, while preserving Social Security and Medicare benefits. It also proposes streamlining energy permitting, rolling back some climate-related subsidies, and repealing portions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, the bill includes a $4 trillion increase to the debt ceiling to prevent a default by the end of July. While the White House touts the bill as delivering $1.6 trillion in net savings (calling it the largest cost-saving package in US legislative history), critics argue that its impact on long-term debt and cuts to safety net programs raise major concerns.
What’s going on now: Notable Senate Republicans have come out strongly against the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,“ exposing deep divisions within the GOP conference and threatening the bill’s passage. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has been one of the most vocal critics, warning that the legislation is fiscally reckless due to its massive debt ceiling increase. “I want to see the tax cuts made permanent, but I also want to see the $5 trillion in new debt removed from the bill,“ Paul wrote on X, adding, “The math doesn’t add up. I’m not supporting a bill that increases the debt by $5T.“ He also blasted the spending cuts as “wimpy and anemic,“ calling for sharper reductions, including potentially to entitlement programs like Medicaid, a move President Trump and other Senate Republicans have declared off-limits.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) echoed Paul’s concerns, arguing that the bill is “so far off the mark” and fails to reflect conservative fiscal priorities. “I’ve been trying to interject reality. I’ve been trying to interject facts and figures. They’re on my side,” he told reporters. Johnson noted that “there’s no amount of pressure” Trump could apply to change his stance. Similarly, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has demanded steeper spending cuts and signaled skepticism about extending current spending levels, while Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has aligned himself with these calls for deeper fiscal discipline. All four senators represent critical votes that could sink the bill if not addressed, as Republicans can only afford three defections.
This all comes as President Trump has launched a wave of criticism against Republican senators opposing the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” particularly targeting Senator Rand Paul. In a series of posts on his Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can’t stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!” He also warned that if Paul voted against the bill, “the GREAT people of Kentucky will never forgive him!”
