Congress Enacts One Big Beautiful Bill Making Tax Cuts Permanent Expanding Immigration Funding

President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law in July 2025, marking a significant legislative achievement for his administration. The bill makes permanent many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including lower individual tax rates and higher standard deductions, while introducing new incentives such as an above-the-line deduction for tips and certain overtime. It also includes increased funding for immigration enforcement, allocating nearly $30 billion to ICE and $45 billion for detention facilities, reflecting the administration's focus on cracking down on illegal immigration. The law brings notable changes to higher education funding and student loans, including the elimination of Grad PLUS loans and caps on Parent PLUS loans, which may impact graduate enrollment and disproportionately affect underrepresented groups. Additionally, colleges may face accountability measures tied to graduates' earnings, potentially affecting eligibility for federal student loans. These wide-ranging provisions will take effect at various times, with many changes starting in 2026, and have sparked diverse reactions from lawmakers and educational institutions alike.