Overview
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect on July 4, extending tax cuts, raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion and phasing in stricter work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP programs.
- The Congressional Budget Office projects that the law will add about $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.
- Annual interest payments now approach $1 trillion—exceeding the defense budget—and CBO forecasts they could reach $1.6 trillion by 2034, crowding out other spending.
- Critics warn that temporary measures are concentrated early in the decade, risking total deficits of up to $6 trillion and pushing public debt from 100% to 130% of GDP by 2034.
- Investor groups and editorial boards are calling for comprehensive fiscal reforms; some conservative commentators dispute CBO estimates, insisting that dynamic growth and tariff revenues will offset the new debt.