President Donald Trump held an outdoor signing ceremony on the south portico of the White House, on Friday, July 4, 2025, formally enacting a major tax and spending bill that passed through the Senate and House earlier in the week. Different parts of the bill will go into effect over the next year.
The signing ceremony was part of several holiday events, including a picnic for military family members on the South Lawn of the White House, as well as fly-overs by U.S. military jets and bombers. The evening program was set to include fireworks in celebration of the Independence Day holiday.
During remarks he made from the Truman balcony prior to signing the bill, the President, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, commented on various parts of the bill, then thanked various Republican lawmakers, referenced the recent increase in NATO contributions, and applauded the military forces and workers in various industries.
The President and First Lady then went down to the south lawn to meet with legislators, cabinet officials, and military families, and signed the legislation at a small desk prepared for the occasion.
The Senate version of the tax bill passed on Tuesday by a vote of 51-50, with the tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance. Three Republican senators joined with all 47 Democrats in voting against the bill in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the bill passed on Thursday afternoon with a vote of 218-214, with two Republican congressmen, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), joining Democrats in voting “nay” on the bill.
- Related: Congress Passes Trump Tax Bill; President to Hold Signing Ceremony on July 4
- Related: Trump Tax Bill Passes Senate
- Related: Senate Tax Bill Would Add $3.3 Trillion to Deficit, Says CBO
The legislation includes a variety of measures that reflect Trump’s domestic agenda, including the extension of tax breaks from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, an increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, and business tax breaks that the Congressional Budget Office projects will add trillions to the national debt. The bill also includes elimination of renewable and energy efficiency tax credits for taxpayers and manufacturers.
The bill also cuts Medicare and Medicaid funding, increases out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid doctor visits, cuts funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly called food stamps) and makes changes to the Affordable Care Act. Healthcare analysts say these changes place the health of nearly 12 million in jeopardy over the next decade.
The bill also includes spending increases, including $150 billion to fund border security and mass deportations, and a $45 billion increase in the budget of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The added funding and staff expansions will make ICE the largest law enforcement organization in the nation, even larger than the FBI.
“No bill is perfect – however, there are many beneficial tax provisions in this bill that I believe support the business community and will help grow our economy,” said Mark Koziel, CPA, the president and CEO of of the American Institute of CPAs on the passage One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “The tax provisions in this bill will help facilitate tax planning earlier in the year, which can help reduce the anxiety of the unknown for many taxpayers. We look forward to continuing our work with Congress and the Administration to improve these provisions as they are implemented.”
Democratic and civil liberties groups have been united in opposition to the bill, which has also been controversial within the Republican Party, with fiscal conservatives concerned about the bill’s increase on the federal deficit and debt, as well as raising the national debt limit. At the same time, some moderate Republicans fear the cuts to health care may come back to haunt them in future elections.
The bill also includes several stand-alone spending projects, including $1 billion for security, planning, and other costs for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and $30 million to build a sculpture park called the “American Garden of Heroes.”
In total, the CBO projects the bill could add up to $3.3 trillion to the debt by 2034. Republicans dispute the figure as inflated, arguing the CBO assumes status economic growth, while still other groups say the projection is conservative.
Photo caption: President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, 2025.
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