|
Listen to this article here
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 4, President Donald Trump took the stage at the White House’s Independence Day celebration to sign the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, (OBBBA), a sweeping tax-and-spending package that he hailed as his “greatest victory yet”.
With fireworks lighting up the sky and B-2 bombers roaring overhead, Trump framed the legislation as a patriotic triumph. However, the crowd’s delight masked deeper unease.
What’s in the bill
The “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” delivers sweeping changes with far-reaching implications. It locks in permanent tax cuts for the wealthy while allowing key working-class benefits—such as the “no-tax-on-tips” deduction—to expire by 2028.
The bill slashes core safety-net programs, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that up to 11 million people could lose health insurance, while critical lifelines like SNAP and Medicaid face deep cuts. Simultaneously, the legislation balloons the national debt by an estimated $2.8 to $3.4 trillion by 2034.
On immigration, it supercharges enforcement, boosting ICE’s budget past $100 billion and tightening work requirements. It’s a move that critics warn will disproportionately harm marginalized communities.
How Trump’s ‘OBBBA’ Will Impact the Black Community and Everyday Americans
This legislation lands at a critical moment for Black families, who disproportionately rely on Medicaid and SNAP. The Congressional Budget Office now warns that up to 11.8 million people—a significant share of whom are Black—may lose health insurance by 2034 due to stricter eligibility rules and work requirements. This jeopardizes essential food support, health care access, and community resilience
Following the president’s signing, Kristin Powell, Executive Director of the African American Policy Forum, issued a stark rebuke, saying, “Trump and GOP lawmakers have launched a direct attack on Black communities and the basic rights we fight for every day.”
Rep. Jasmie Crockett, after voting no, said, “This bill will hurt real people. Rural hospitals and nursing homes will shut down. Grocery bills will go up while food assistance goes down. Some families in TX-30 could see their insurance premiums double or even triple.”
I will never vote to take health care away from the 1.6 million Texans who rely on Medicaid. I will never vote to take food out of the mouths of the 115,000 people in my district who depend on SNAP to feed their families.
“Make no mistake, this bill is not beautiful. It’s brutal. It’s a deeply destructive piece of legislation that undermines the very foundations of what it means to be an American. Not only does it slash funding for essential programs like Medicaid, SNAP, tax credits for the middle and working class, it deepens the nation’s debt by over $3 trillion – all to make billionaires wealthier.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson
In the wake of the signing, these voices reflect a harsh truth: what supporters tout as fiscal discipline may instead widen racial health gaps, deepen poverty, and threaten the well-being of Black communities in critical need of government support.
Public and political backlash
On Independence Day, protests erupted nationwide, including a massive demonstration in Los Angeles with tens of thousands in attendance. In New York City, activists held a powerful “die-in” outside Trump Tower, chanting, “Trump’s bill will kill!”.
Your writing has a way of resonating with me on a deep level. I appreciate the honesty and authenticity you bring to every post. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.