Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Encounters GOP Resistance Amid Rising Debt Concerns

President Donald Trump's signature legislative proposal, dubbed the "Big, Beautiful Bill," is attracting mounting scrutiny—even from within Republican ranks—as it makes its way through a Republican-controlled Congress. Despite its sweeping ambitions to overhaul U.S. tax policy, enhance border security, adjust defense spending, and enact changes to major social programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, concerns over the nation’s long-term fiscal health are casting a shadow over the bill’s prospects.

The House approved the sprawling spending package late last month by a razor-thin margin of 215-214-1, clearing the way for Senate debate. The bill's cost and potential to raise the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion has ignited intense debate. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) remains a staunch opponent, saying that unless the debt ceiling provisions are removed, he will continue to vote "no." He is joined by at least three other GOP senators who fear the bill could balloon the national debt, which already stands at $36.2 trillion as of this week, according to data from the Treasury Department.

Senator Paul emphasized his objections, stating, "If you increase the ceiling $5 trillion, you'll meet that. And what it does is it puts it off the back-burner. And then we won't discuss it for a year or two." His remarks fueled further discord, with President Trump countering on social media that Paul "has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting ‘NO’ on everything… but it’s not [good politics]. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!"

Meanwhile, the White House has taken an aggressive approach in defending the bill’s fiscal impact. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected claims that the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” would worsen the deficit, challenging the accuracy of Congressional Budget Office projections and dismissing critics’ reliance on what she called “shoddy assumptions.” Nevertheless, independent analysts estimate the bill would add over $2 trillion to the budget deficit over the next decade, while the combination of tax reforms and cuts could contribute nearly $3.8 trillion to deficits, partially offset by spending reductions elsewhere in the package.

The growing unease is not limited to politicians. Elon Musk, who recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump, publicly condemned the bill on social media, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and singling out lawmakers who supported it. Other Republicans, including Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), have expressed hopes that the Senate will implement deeper spending cuts before the measure becomes law, cautioning against policies that could "bankrupt the country."

In an attempt to bolster public support, the White House has launched a website allowing Americans to calculate their potential savings under the bill. Yet, with economists warning about the escalating pace of Congressional spending and a rising national deficit that now totals $1 trillion for the year, skepticism remains entrenched across ideological lines.

Should the Senate make substantive changes to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which appears increasingly likely amid calls for "line-by-line" spending cuts from figures such as Senator Ron Johnson, the legislation will return to the House for another round of voting. The fraught process highlights not only the deep divisions within the Republican Party over fiscal policy but also the enormous stakes involved as lawmakers wrestle with issues at the heart of the nation’s economic future.