Trump Signs GOP Megabill Raising Deficit, Threatening Rural Hospitals

President Donald Trump signed into law the expansive One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a nearly 1,000-page tax and spending megabill that consolidates numerous conservative priorities and is estimated to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over ten years. The bill was shepherded through Congress by GOP leaders, including U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, who emphasized the legislation's importance and the strategic decisions involved in uniting fractious Republicans to meet Trump's Independence Day deadline. However, the bill has raised significant concerns, particularly regarding its stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements, which could financially strain rural hospitals and potentially lead to service reductions or closures, despite a $50 billion fund intended to support these facilities. Many rural constituents, including some Trump supporters, worry about the personal and community health care impacts, with some facing cuts to benefits like SNAP. Additionally, the bill's environmental and public land provisions have unsettled coastal fishing communities and conservationists, who fear weakened protections and threats to habitat integrity and public access. The bill's immense size and complexity have also led to lawmakers admitting they have not fully read or understood all its components, highlighting challenges in transparency and oversight.