Trump's "big, beautiful bill" has Republicans squabbling over math
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the media at the U.S. Capitol on May 22. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" will either spur unprecedented economic growth or blow up the national debt by trillions depending on which congressional Republican you asked Sunday.
Why it matters: There are enough Republican budget hawks in the Senate to scuttle Trump's premier legislative accomplishment if the optimists can't rally their votes.
- The Congressional Budget Office and others estimate the legislation will add trillions to the deficit over the next decade. But House Speaker Mike Johnson argued Sunday that Congress' own analysts are wrong.
What they're saying: Johnson, who predicts the bill will be signed by July 4, said his "friends" concerned that the bill spends too much — including billionaire Elon Musk — are "missing ... the tremendous and historic level of spending cuts that are also in the same package."
- He dismissed the CBO projection on NBC's "Meet the Press," arguing it assumes "anemic economic growth."
- Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought also argued on CNN's "State of the Union" the bill lowers the deficit by $1.4 trillion.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" the CBO score misses "substantial tariff income."
- "We are going to bring the deficit down slowly," Bessent said.
The other side: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), responding to Bessent, contended the math "doesn't really add up," saying new spending eclipses cuts identified by the Department of Government Efficiency.
- "I think they're asking for too much money, and in the end, the way you add it up to see if it actually is going to save money or add money is how much debt are they going to borrow?" he continued. "5 trillion over two years. Enormous amount."
- Musk, who recently departed DOGE, said in an interview that aired Sunday with CBS News' "Sunday Morning," "I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful."
- "But I don't know if it could be both," the richest man in the world said.
- Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who wants steeper cuts, called for a return to pre-pandemic spending levels on Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures," arguing, "we cannot continue to mortgage" future generations.
By the numbers: The bill is projected to add $3 trillion to 5 trillion to deficits over the next 10 years, dwarfing DOGE's cuts.
- But the White House argues that tax cut extensions shouldn't count as new costs in the CBO analysis.
- The bill would expand Trump's 2017 tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling and include significant new spending on border security and the military.
Friction point: Bill supporters faced irate crowds at town halls and events last week.
- Republicans were battered with questions about changes to Medicaid under the guise of curbing waste, fraud and abuse and reductions to SNAP.
- During questioning at a Friday town hall, Sen. Joni Ernst's (R-Iowa) comment that "we all are going to die" in response to Medicaid concerns drew particular ire.
- Johnson, pressed Sunday on the millions projected to lose coverage under new work reporting requirements included in the bill, said those people would not lose Medicaid "unless they choose to do so."
Go deeper: Scoop: Johnson privately cautions Senate GOP on Trump's budget bill
