Impacts of the Big Bill

This page highlights the mostly catastrophic effects of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" while noting a few silver linings and areas where worst-case outcomes were avoided. Detailed pages on each theme will follow.

Transportation

• New Highway Trust Fund revenues are not reserved for mass transit, reducing potential support for subway, bus, and commuter rail projects.
• No direct provisions for Amtrak or intercity bus service, signaling a focus on roads.
• Neighborhood Access and Equity grants are repealed, limiting federal help for bike lanes and traffic safety programs.

Accessibility

• Programs like NLS BARD are not specifically addressed, but overall domestic spending cuts may tighten future budgets.
• A proposed ban on local AI regulation was dropped, so cities and states remain free to set their own rules.

Clean Energy

• Tax credits for solar, wind, and geothermal projects phase out after 2026.
• Electric vehicle purchase credits end in 2025; charging infrastructure credits expire in 2026.
• More oil and gas leasing on federal lands; little new support for nuclear research.

Space Exploration

• $10 billion directed to Mars missions and funding to de-orbit the ISS at end of life.
• No new allocations for the Artemis Moon program or space telescopes.

Parks and Land Use

• Public land sales proposal was removed, but regular oil and gas lease sales are required.
• $40 million provided to establish a National Garden of American Heroes.

City and State Impacts

• Municipal bond tax exemption preserved; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit expanded.
• States shoulder more Medicaid and SNAP costs, potentially straining budgets.
• SALT deduction cap temporarily raised to $40,000.

Immigration and Border Security

• Higher fees for work visas and a new 1% tax on remittances leaving the U.S.
• Major increases for border wall construction, detention beds, and enforcement staff.
• New fees for asylum and humanitarian applications may discourage filings.

International Context

• Defense spending boost supports commitments such as aid to Ukraine and Indo-Pacific security.
• Repeal of the de minimis tariff rule imposes duties on low-value imports.
• Scaling back clean-energy incentives may undermine global climate efforts.

Fiscal Outlook

• Extends 2017 tax cuts, lowering federal revenue.
• Projected to add roughly $3 trillion to the national debt over ten years.
• Moody's downgraded the U.S. credit rating amid concerns about rising deficits.

For now, this overview collects the major impacts in one place. Additional pages will examine each category in depth.

Read the full analysis

---

Back to Home