Kill the Bill! How the budget plan sparked a rift between Trump, Musk, and key Republicans

One way to address such inequality is by raising taxes for the wealthiest at least to the 2017 levels, but the Republicans quickly abandoned this idea — despite Trump raising it on several occasions. Moreover, the bill includes additional loopholes benefiting the most affluent taxpayers.

To make up for the loss of a significant chunk of revenue, the Republicans decided to cut social programs. Since Trump promised immunity to Social Security and Medicaid, the cuts targeted Medicare (which supports low-income individuals), subsidies for private health insurance under Obamacare, and the SNAP food assistance program (better known as “food stamps”). Overall, the social program cuts exceeded $ 1.2 trillion.

The Republicans insisted that ordinary Americans would not feel these cuts, claiming that benefits would be taken away from undocumented immigrants and those who are unwilling to work. However, according to the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated 12 million people would lose their health insurance, to say nothing of other sacrifices those living at the bottom of the income ladder would be forced to endure. Economists have estimated that the poorest 20% of Americans — those earning less than $17,000 a year — will see their average income shrink by $1,000-1,400, while the top 0.1% of earners — with incomes over $4.3 million — will receive an average increase of $389,000 post-tax in 2026.

Unlike social programs, law enforcement agencies are slated to receive a significant boost from the Republicans. In particular, Pentagon funding is set to increase by $150 billion, mostly in order to expand its unmanned systems programs: aerial kamikaze drones, sea drones, and underwater drones. The Trump administration also plans to use these funds to finance its large-scale missile defense program, the Golden Dome.

Another $70 billion will be allocated to the authorities responsible for deporting undocumented migrants. The lion’s share of these funds will go toward completing the wall on the border with Mexico, while the rest will be used to hire additional agents and expand the capacity of migrant detention centers. The goal is to create infrastructure capable of deporting up to 1 million people per year.