20 Reasons Why Congress Must Unite Behind the One, Big, Beautiful Bill
5/20/2025
Action Summary
- Historic Tax Cuts: Proposes the largest tax reduction in American history, delivering an extra $5,000 for many taxpayers and a significant percentage decrease, particularly benefiting income earners between $30,000 and $80,000.
- No Tax on Tips or Overtime: Exempts tips and overtime pay from taxation, fulfilling key campaign promises and directly benefiting working Americans.
- Enhanced Border Security: Implements “Big, Beautiful Deportations” with plans for one million annual removals and a massive investment in border security measures.
- Border Wall Completion: Completes extensive construction of the border wall, including primary, secondary, and additional barriers to block illicit entries and drug trafficking.
- Strengthening Immigration Enforcement: Increases manpower for immigration authorities by hiring thousands of ICE personnel, customs officers, and Border Patrol agents along with offering bonuses.
- Medicaid Reforms: Protects American taxpayers by eliminating benefits for approximately 1.4 million illegal immigrants, aiming to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Work Requirement Policies: Imposes work requirements on 4.8 million able-bodied adults currently relying on benefits to promote employment and self-sufficiency.
- Deficit Reduction: Targets a $1.6 trillion mandatory saving, marking the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years.
- Social Security and Healthcare Adjustments: Offers historic tax relief for Social Security recipients and ends taxpayer-funded gender transition procedures for minors.
- Permanent Tax Relief: Provides lasting tax cuts through the Trump Tax Cuts, warning of a potential drastic tax hike if the bill is not passed.
- Modernizing Infrastructure: Overhauls air traffic control systems to modernize American aviation, addressing previous administrative shortcomings.
- Environmental and Energy Policy Changes: Repeals “green” corporate subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act, ends electric vehicle mandates, and cuts billions in taxpayer expenses.
- Made in America Incentives: Rewards U.S.-based manufacturing with tax reductions and benefits consumers purchasing American-made vehicles.
- Family-Focused Measures: Enhances the child tax credit, introduces MAGA Accounts for newborns, and strengthens paid family leave to support American families.
- Gig Economy Reforms: Repeals onerous IRS reporting requirements for small transactions by gig economy platforms like Venmo and PayPal.
- Support for Family Farmers: Prevents an increase in the “death tax” on two million family farms and reduces farming taxes by over $10 billion.
- National Defense Investments: Elevates defense capabilities by funding initiatives such as President Trump’s Golden Dome, investing in shipbuilding, and modernizing the military.
- American Energy Dominance: Boosts domestic energy production through increased onshore and offshore oil and gas leases to achieve energy affordability and job growth.
- Domestic Mineral Development: Encourages the mining of critical minerals in America, reducing reliance on foreign sources and enhancing national security.
Risks & Considerations
- The proposed tax cuts could lead to a reduction in federal funding available for education and research grants, which may impact Vanderbilt University’s reliance on federal education funds.
- The emphasis on border security and deportations could affect the university’s international student population, potentially reducing diversity and impacting programs reliant on global perspectives.
- Changes in Medicaid and work requirements for benefits could affect students and staff who rely on these programs, potentially leading to increased financial strain and affecting their ability to participate fully in university life.
- The repeal of green energy subsidies and mandates could impact Vanderbilt’s sustainability initiatives and partnerships focused on environmental research and innovation.
- Increased focus on American-made products and energy independence may present opportunities for research and collaboration in these areas, but could also shift funding priorities away from other research initiatives.
Impacted Programs
- Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office may need to adjust strategies to accommodate changes in federal funding and tax policies affecting students and their families.
- The Office of International Student and Scholar Services could face challenges in maintaining and supporting the international student body amid stricter immigration policies.
- Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office might need to reassess its strategies and partnerships in light of changes to federal energy and environmental policies.
- The Peabody College of Education and Human Development may see shifts in research funding priorities, particularly in areas related to social policy and public welfare.
Financial Impact
- Potential reductions in federal funding for education and research could necessitate increased reliance on private grants and alternative funding sources.
- Changes in tax policies may affect the financial landscape for students and their families, potentially impacting enrollment and tuition revenue.
- Opportunities may arise for Vanderbilt to engage in research and development related to American manufacturing and energy independence, potentially attracting new funding and partnerships.
- The university may need to consider the financial implications of supporting students and staff affected by changes in Medicaid and work requirements for benefits.
Relevance Score: 4 (The bill presents high risks involving potential major transformations of programs and funding structures.)
Key Actions
- Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should closely monitor the implications of the proposed tax cuts and changes to federal funding, particularly in areas affecting education and research grants. Understanding these changes will be crucial for strategic financial planning and maintaining funding for university programs.
- The Immigration Services Office should prepare for potential impacts on international students and staff due to increased border security measures and deportation policies. Proactive communication and support strategies will be essential to address concerns and ensure compliance with new regulations.
- Vanderbilt’s Center for Health Policy should evaluate the potential effects of Medicaid changes on the university’s healthcare programs and partnerships. This includes assessing how the removal of benefits for certain populations might impact community health initiatives and research.
- The Department of Political Science should conduct research on the broader societal impacts of the proposed legislative changes, particularly in areas such as immigration, healthcare, and energy policy. This research can provide valuable insights and inform public discourse on these critical issues.
- Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office should assess the potential impacts of the repeal of green subsidies and changes to energy policies. Identifying opportunities for sustainable practices and partnerships will be important in adapting to the new energy landscape.
Opportunities
- The proposed tax incentives for American-made products present an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management to develop programs focused on domestic manufacturing and supply chain management. This could enhance the university’s role in supporting American industry and innovation.
- The emphasis on energy independence and mineral development offers opportunities for Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering to engage in research and development projects related to energy technologies and resource management. Collaborations with industry partners could lead to advancements in these fields.
- The focus on modernizing air traffic control systems aligns with Vanderbilt’s Institute for Space and Defense Electronics expertise. Engaging in research and development initiatives in this area could position the university as a leader in aerospace innovation.
Relevance Score: 4 (The proposed legislative changes could require major process adjustments across multiple university departments, particularly in areas of funding, immigration, and energy policy.)
Timeline for Implementation
N/A — No specific implementation deadlines or enforcement periods are mentioned in the directives.
Relevance Score: 1
Impacted Government Organizations
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Oversees border security initiatives including the expansion of ICE and Border Patrol operations, as well as the completion of border wall components.
- U.S. Treasury & Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Involved in executing historic tax cuts, adjusting tax relief measures (including for Social Security recipients), and revising reporting requirements for gig economy transactions.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Affected by changes in Medicaid eligibility rules and policy adjustments impacting taxpayer-funded benefits.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Tasked with modernizing air traffic control systems as part of overhaul efforts mentioned in the bill.
- Department of Agriculture (USDA): Impacted through provisions that protect family farms and adjust tax policies related to farming operations.
- Department of Defense (DoD): Benefits from new investments aimed at modernizing military capabilities and defense infrastructure, including shipbuilding initiatives.
- Social Security Administration (SSA): Receives directives related to the historic tax relief for Social Security beneficiaries.
- Department of Energy (DOE): Influenced by policies promoting onshore and offshore oil and gas leases as well as broader energy dominance measures.
- Department of the Interior (DOI): Plays a role in overseeing increased domestic mineral development and resource-related leasing activities.
Relevance Score: 3 (Between 6 and 10 government agencies are directly impacted by the proposed bill’s provisions.)
Responsible Officials
- N/A – The text is an opinion piece calling on Congress to unite behind a legislative proposal, and no specific executive or agency officials are directed to implement any actions.
Relevance Score: 1 (The directives do not specifically target any individual or agency official for implementation.)