Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill': A Trillion-Dollar Question for the National Debt

The PBS NewsHour recently aired a segment breaking down the potential impact of the Trump administration's 'Big Beautiful Bill' on the US national debt. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins explained that the Republican tax cuts and spending bill could add trillions to the already massive deficit. "Republicans are adding some new tax cuts," Desjardins said, "but they pale in comparison to the biggest cost: extending the Trump tax cuts." The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the tax cuts in the bill add up to $3.7 trillion. While Republicans argue that economic growth will help offset this, Desjardins points out that the bill's spending cuts of $1.3 trillion are significantly smaller. This means the bill could increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion, even before considering interest costs. The video also highlighted the Senate rules requiring a majority vote, a budget effect, and a prohibition on increasing the deficit over ten years. The segment concluded by showing how small the savings from spending cuts are compared to the overall deficit, illustrating the scale of the challenge.