House Passes GOP Bill Cutting Services, Raising Military, Border Budgets

President Donald Trump's "One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act," a massive domestic policy package featuring deep tax and spending cuts alongside increased military and border budgets, passed the House in a narrow 218-214 vote largely along party lines. Democrats, including Rep. Jared Huffman, condemned the legislation as a betrayal that will harm rural communities by phasing in Medicaid cuts, reducing Affordable Care Act subsidies, and cutting Veterans Affairs funding, thereby threatening hospitals and healthcare providers across the country. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear warned that the bill would devastate rural America by closing 35 rural hospitals, many of which are the second-largest employers in their communities, triggering economic downturns and business closures. The bill has faced criticism for shifting benefits from the poor to corporations and the wealthy, with opponents urging constituents to contact their representatives to oppose the measure. Despite the controversy and warnings of long-term negative impacts, House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, pushed the bill forward, highlighting the party's commitment to traditional GOP priorities such as military and border spending. The legislation's effects are expected to influence political dynamics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, potentially aiding Democrats in their efforts to regain control of the House.