Capitol Hill Touts Benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill

6/16/2025

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Action Summary

Tax Cuts and Economic Relief: The legislation promises the largest tax cut in history by making permanent the 2017 Trump tax cuts, boosting take-home pay for families, small businesses, and seniors, and aiming for significant deficit reduction.
Enhanced Border Security: Key provisions include funding to complete the border wall, modernizing technology for Customs and Border Patrol, increasing detention capacity, and improving resources for ICE to secure the nation’s borders.
Fiscal Responsibility and Spending Reductions: The bill targets waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs, promising spending cuts and measures to rein in government inefficiency while balancing the budget.
Healthcare and Safety Net Protections: Despite criticism, multiple lawmakers emphasize that Medicaid and other critical safety net programs are preserved and strengthened, not cut, ensuring support for vulnerable populations.
Modernization and Infrastructure Investments: Beyond economic reforms, the bill includes commitments to modernizing air traffic control systems and other infrastructure upgrades to support American energy and trade.
Broad Republican Support: Numerous Republican senators and representatives, from various states, have voiced strong support, arguing the bill secures border safety, protects American jobs, and delivers on the mandate from the 77 million voters.

Risks & Considerations

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” emphasizes significant tax cuts and spending reductions, which could lead to decreased federal funding for educational institutions, including Vanderbilt University. This poses a risk to programs reliant on federal grants.
Increased border security and immigration measures could impact Vanderbilt’s international student population, potentially affecting enrollment and diversity on campus.
The focus on reducing federal spending and reforming welfare programs may lead to changes in financial aid policies, affecting students who rely on federal assistance.
Vanderbilt may need to adjust its strategic planning to align with potential shifts in federal priorities, particularly in areas related to research funding and educational policy.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office may need to reassess its strategies to accommodate changes in federal financial aid policies and ensure continued support for students in need.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services could face challenges in maintaining international student enrollment due to stricter immigration policies.
Research programs at Vanderbilt may experience shifts in funding opportunities, necessitating a focus on diversifying funding sources and exploring private grants.
The Peabody College of Education and Human Development might need to engage in research and policy analysis related to the impacts of federal spending cuts on education.

Financial Impact

The potential reduction in federal funding could impact Vanderbilt’s budget, requiring adjustments in financial planning and resource allocation.
Changes in tax policies may affect the financial landscape for students and families, influencing decisions related to tuition and enrollment.
Vanderbilt may need to explore alternative funding sources to mitigate the impact of reduced federal support, including partnerships with private organizations and increased fundraising efforts.
The university’s ability to attract and retain international students could be affected, impacting tuition revenue and campus diversity.

Relevance Score: 4 (The bill presents high risks involving potential major transformations in funding and policy impacts on university programs.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should closely monitor the legislative developments of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to assess potential impacts on federal funding and tax policies that could affect the university’s financial planning and operations.
Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office should evaluate the implications of the proposed tax cuts and changes to Medicaid on student financial aid needs and adjust strategies to ensure continued support for students from low-income families.
The Department of Political Science should conduct research on the broader societal impacts of the proposed border security measures and tax reforms. This research can provide valuable insights into how these policies affect immigration, economic equity, and community dynamics.
Vanderbilt’s Center for Child and Family Policy should engage in policy analysis and advocacy regarding the proposed changes to Medicaid and other safety net programs, providing evidence-based recommendations to influence policy decisions.
Vanderbilt’s Project on Unity & American Democracy should explore opportunities to align its initiatives with national priorities on border security and economic reforms, potentially securing federal support for related research and public discourse.

Opportunities

The proposed tax reforms present an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management to expand its research and development of economic models that analyze the impact of tax policies on business growth and innovation.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased focus on border security by developing new programs and partnerships with government agencies and private sector organizations involved in national security and immigration policy.
The emphasis on reducing federal spending offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Public Policy Studies Program to engage in research and dialogue on efficient government spending and fiscal responsibility, enhancing its role as a thought leader in public policy.
By engaging with the broader educational and policy community, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in the national conversation on economic and security reforms. Hosting conferences, workshops, and public forums on the implications of these policies can further establish Vanderbilt as a hub for innovative thought and practice.

Relevance Score: 4 (The proposed legislative changes could require major process adjustments for Vanderbilt’s financial planning, student support, and policy research initiatives.)

Average Relevance Score: 4

Timeline for Implementation

Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill by July 4, 2025. (Reported with the goal for Senate passage.)
Extend the TCJA’s provisions by January 1, 2026. (Stated to avoid a 26% tax increase if action is not taken.)
Provisions expire at the end of 2025. (Mentioned as the deadline for maintaining current benefits.)

The shortest deadline is the July 4, 2025 target, indicating an urgent timeline.

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): The bill’s border security provisions—such as funding for a border wall and enhanced patrol resources—directly affect CBP’s operational capabilities.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Enhanced resources and increased detention capacity for deporting individuals connect directly with ICE’s enforcement responsibilities.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): As the umbrella agency for CBP and ICE, DHS is central to implementing and managing the bill’s border and security initiatives.
Department of Transportation (DOT) / Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Provisions on modernizing air traffic control systems and improving aviation safety impact the DOT and its subordinate agency, the FAA.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): With the bill’s commitments to protect and preserve Medicaid, CMS is implicated in administering these changes in healthcare policy.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The permanent extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions and related tax relief measures imply operational impacts on the IRS under the Treasury’s oversight.
Department of Education: Though explicitly excluded from receiving funds under this bill, its mention indicates it is impacted by the funding choices made in the legislative package.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Similarly, HUD is noted as not receiving additional resources, marking it as a government organization indirectly impacted by the bill’s allocation priorities.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The explicit decision to withhold funding from the EPA demonstrates that the bill’s provisions intentionally exclude this organization.

Relevance Score: 3 (Between six and ten federal agencies are impacted by the provisions in the bill.)

Responsible Officials

Homeland Security Secretary – Referenced in connection with the directive to secure the nation’s borders by providing resources and technology to agencies like Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Transportation Secretary – Named in relation to the modernization of the nation’s air traffic control system, as part of implementing the legislative provisions.

Relevance Score: 4 (The directives target cabinet-level agency heads responsible for key national security and infrastructure initiatives.)