After a week of high-stakes votes and intraparty wrangling, President Donald Trump on Friday signed a massive reconciliation bill that overhauls tax policy, slashes spending on social safety nets, and expands funding for defense and border enforcement. The legislation passed the Senate by a 51–50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie, before narrowly clearing the House on Thursday. It was signed into law during a July 4 ceremony at the White House.

Dubbed by Republicans as a “big, beautiful bill,” the legislation locks in $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, primarily benefiting high-income earners and businesses, while making the steepest-ever reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add at least $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.

Key provisions:

• Tax Cuts: Permanent extensions of Trump’s 2017 tax reductions, expanded standard deductions, new deductions for tips and overtime, estate tax changes, and enhanced business write-offs.
• Spending Increases: Roughly $150 billion for the military and $175 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and expanded detention.
• Spending Cuts: Nearly $1 trillion cut from Medicaid, $186 billion from SNAP food assistance, and $500+ billion from clean energy incentives.

Washington state impact:

• Medicaid: An estimated 250,000 Washingtonians will lose Medicaid coverage. The state could lose $3–5 billion annually in federal support, jeopardizing rural hospitals and children’s health coverage.
• SNAP (Food Stamps): Around 170,000 residents could lose benefits due to stricter work requirements and eligibility rules. The state faces over $180 million in new administrative and cost-sharing expenses.
• Clean Energy: Washington risks losing $8.7 billion in clean energy investment. The phaseout of solar and wind credits could raise household electricity costs by $115/year and cost over 20,000 clean energy jobs by 2030.

Gov. Bob Ferguson condemned the law as a “morally bankrupt” transfer of resources from the vulnerable to the wealthy. While GOP backers say the bill promotes work and cuts waste, critics warn of hospital closures, economic ripple effects, and an unraveling of state-run safety net programs.