WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump is set to sign a sweeping domestic policy package at a ceremonious Independence Day event at the White House on Friday, July 4, 2025, capping off a contentious legislative process that narrowly delivered a major victory for his administration and Republican congressional leaders.
The bill, which Mr. Trump has dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” passed the House on Thursday, July 3, 2025, by a razor-thin margin of 218 to 214, with two Republican defections and no Democratic support.
GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against the measure.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered the longest speech in the chamber’s history during the debate, a final act of resistance before the bill cleared the floor.
The signing ceremony, scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, July 4, 2025, is expected to feature Republican lawmakers and members of the Trump administration.
Mr. Trump, speaking at a rally in Iowa on Thursday, July 3, 2025, heralded the bill’s passage as a turning point for the country.
“The first five months of our second term have been a declaration of independence from a, really, national decline,” the president said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the bill as “an encapsulation of all of the policies that the president campaigned on and the American people voted on,” calling the passage “a victorious day for the American people.”
The bill includes wide-ranging changes to tax policy, social programmes, immigration enforcement, and environmental regulation:
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Child Tax Credit: The existing $2,000 credit, which was set to revert to $1,000 in 2026, will now permanently increase to $2,200 per child.
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Medicaid Restrictions: The bill imposes new work requirements and frequent eligibility checks for able-bodied adults on Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 11.8 million Americans could lose coverage over the next decade.
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Food Stamps: Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) include expanded work requirements and a mandate that states with high error rates in benefits disbursement reimburse federal costs.
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Tipped Workers Tax Relief: A temporary provision allows tipped workers to deduct up to $25,000 in tips and overtime from taxable income through 2028.
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Immigration Enforcement: Over $46.5 billion is allocated for border wall construction and related infrastructure. An additional $45 billion is designated to expand immigrant detention capacity, and $30 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement staffing and operations.
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State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT): The cap is raised from $10,000 to $40,000 for five years, after which it reverts to current levels.
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Clean Energy Rollback: Many of the consumer-focused tax credits and incentives for clean energy, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency introduced under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act are repealed.
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Debt Ceiling: The legislation raises the federal debt limit by $5 trillion, surpassing the $4 trillion target outlined in earlier drafts. Congress faces a separate deadline later this summer to formally address the limit.
According to senior officials, the president played a direct role in shepherding the legislation through Congress, engaging in “late-night phone calls” to sway Republican holdouts.
Vice President J.D. Vance was also actively involved, officials said.
The legislative battle reflected sharp divides not only between parties but also within the Republican ranks.
Multiple concessions and revisions were required to secure enough votes to pass the bill before the symbolic Friday, July 4, 2025, deadline.
The passage of the bill is expected to be a central talking point for the Trump administration moving forward, as the president continues to frame his second term as a reset from what he often describes as a period of national stagnation.
With the bill’s signing set against the backdrop of Independence Day celebrations, the administration is hoping to underscore what it sees as a reaffirmation of conservative governance and a renewed mandate for its domestic agenda.
