U.S President Donald Trump has signed into law a sweeping tax and spending bill, cementing key elements of his administration’s agenda just ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
The signing ceremony, held Friday at the White House, followed a narrow congressional approval of the controversial 870-page legislation.
The new law includes significant tax cuts, major boosts in defense spending, and deep reductions to certain social welfare programs.
The bill also strengthens Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and repeals several Biden-era climate initiatives.
“The largest spending cut, and yet, you won’t even notice it,” Trump told cheering supporters during a South Lawn address. “The people are happy.”
Key Provisions of the Legislation:
Extension of 2017 Trump-era tax cuts
Significant reductions in Medicaid funding
Tax exemptions for tipped wages, overtime, and Social Security income for seniors
$150 billion increase in the defense budget
Repeal of Biden-era clean energy tax incentives
$100 billion funding increase for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The White House event was marked by patriotic pageantry, including a dramatic flyover by two B-2 stealth bombers accompanied by F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, the same aircraft reportedly used in a recent military strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
From the White House balcony, Trump thanked Republican lawmakers for their support in passing the bill.
Despite internal GOP opposition over its projected impact on the national debt, the legislation managed to pass both chambers of Congress.
Critics, particularly Democrats, argue the bill disproportionately benefits the wealthy while cutting essential support for low-income Americans.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries staged a near nine-hour speech in a bid to delay the bill’s final passage.
He called the legislation an “extraordinary assault on the healthcare of the American people” and read testimonies from constituents concerned about the proposed Medicaid cuts.
However, Jeffries’ filibuster-style effort only delayed, not derailed, the final vote. Once he concluded, the House swiftly moved to pass the bill.
Trump brushed aside the criticisms, instead highlighting the bill’s tax relief measures, particularly for service workers and senior citizens.
“This law ends taxes on tips, on overtime, and on Social Security for our seniors,” he emphasized, calling it a win for ordinary Americans.
The President also commended the increase in funding for border security and ICE, claiming it would bolster national safety and address long-standing immigration issues.
The legislative victory comes after days of intense negotiations and backroom persuasion efforts, including personal appeals by the president to wavering Republican lawmakers.
