Myth vs. Fact: The One Big Beautiful Bill

6/29/2025

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Action Summary

Tax Relief for the Middle and Working Class: The bill delivers the largest middle- and working-class tax cut in U.S. history—more than $10,000 per year for typical families—with the lowest-income workers receiving the largest percentage cuts.
Support for Families and Vulnerable Populations: It expands childcare access, increases the child tax credit, creates newborn savings accounts, and strengthens Medicaid without cutting Medicare benefits, ensuring protection for pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families.
Economic and Job Growth Measures: The legislation promotes American manufacturing, supports small businesses by making key tax cuts permanent, and incentivizes domestic factory investment while reducing the risk of massive tax hikes.
Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity: It enacts measures to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid and SNAP, including implementing work requirements for able-bodied adults, and removes illegal aliens from receiving benefits.
National Security and Border Enforcement: The bill invests in border security by completing the border wall, hiring 10,000 new ICE officers, and funding initiatives to curb fentanyl flow, thereby strengthening national security.
Energy and Manufacturing Initiatives: It aims to unleash domestic energy production by repealing restrictive policies and refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, while also ensuring manufacturing jobs remain in the U.S.
Deficit Reduction: By cutting waste and promoting economic growth, the legislation is projected to reduce the deficit by over $2 trillion, countering claims of increased deficits.

Risks & Considerations

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” emphasizes significant tax cuts for middle- and working-class families, which could lead to changes in disposable income and consumer behavior. This may impact Vanderbilt University indirectly through changes in student enrollment patterns or financial aid needs.
The bill’s focus on Medicaid and SNAP reforms, including work requirements, could affect students and families relying on these programs. This may lead to increased demand for university support services or financial aid adjustments.
With the bill’s emphasis on reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs, there could be tighter scrutiny and potential reductions in federal funding for educational institutions, impacting research grants and financial aid programs at Vanderbilt.
The bill’s provisions to strengthen national security and border control may influence international student enrollment and collaborations, affecting Vanderbilt’s global engagement and diversity initiatives.
Changes in energy policies and manufacturing incentives could impact research funding and partnerships in related fields, necessitating strategic adjustments by Vanderbilt’s research departments.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office may need to reassess its strategies to accommodate changes in family incomes and federal aid programs, ensuring continued support for students in need.
The Office of Global Engagement might need to address potential impacts on international student recruitment and retention due to changes in immigration and border policies.
Research departments focusing on energy, manufacturing, and public policy may experience shifts in funding opportunities and collaborative projects, requiring strategic realignment.
The Office of Community Engagement could play a role in supporting local communities affected by changes in federal aid programs, helping to mitigate potential negative impacts on vulnerable populations.

Financial Impact

The reallocation of federal funds and potential reductions in educational grants could impact Vanderbilt’s financial landscape, necessitating adjustments in budgeting and funding strategies.
Vanderbilt University might experience changes in its funding opportunities, particularly if federal discretionary grants prioritize areas aligned with the bill’s objectives, such as national security and energy independence.
There may be increased opportunities for Vanderbilt to secure funding for research and development in areas prioritized by the bill, such as manufacturing and energy, through collaborations with federal agencies and private sector partners.
As tax cuts and economic growth initiatives take effect, there could be a shift in the demographics of students applying to Vanderbilt, potentially affecting tuition revenue and financial aid distribution.

Relevance Score: 3 (The bill presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential impacts on funding and student demographics.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office should assess the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on student demographics and financial aid needs. With the expansion of Opportunity Zones and increased child tax credits, understanding these shifts will be essential for adapting financial aid strategies to attract and support a diverse student body.
The Office of Federal Relations should evaluate the implications of the bill’s tax cuts and Medicaid protections on university funding and healthcare programs. By identifying potential funding opportunities and aligning with federal priorities, Vanderbilt can position itself to secure resources that support its educational and healthcare initiatives.
Vanderbilt’s Center for Child and Family Policy should engage in policy analysis and advocacy regarding the bill’s impact on SNAP and Medicaid. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence how these programs are implemented and ensure they support educational equity and access.
The Department of Political Science should conduct research on the broader societal impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill. This research can provide valuable insights into how these policies affect economic equity, community dynamics, and long-term economic outcomes. Sharing these findings with policymakers and the public can enhance Vanderbilt’s role as a thought leader in policy analysis.
Vanderbilt’s Military and Veterans Affairs Office should explore partnerships with federal agencies to support military-connected families in accessing educational and healthcare opportunities. By understanding the mechanisms available for military families, Vanderbilt can tailor its outreach and support services to better serve this community.

Opportunities

The One Big Beautiful Bill presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Peabody College to expand its research and development of educational models that align with the bill’s focus on Opportunity Zones and tax credits. By leveraging its expertise in education policy and reform, Peabody can contribute to the design and evaluation of effective educational programs, potentially influencing national education policy.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased focus on economic growth and tax relief by developing new programs and partnerships with businesses and community organizations. This could include joint research initiatives, student internships, and collaborative projects, enhancing Vanderbilt’s reputation and reach in the economic sector.
The emphasis on supporting low-income and working families through tax cuts and Medicaid protections offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Center for Health Policy to engage in policy analysis and advocacy. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence how these policies are implemented and used to support healthcare equity and access.
The bill’s focus on strengthening national security and energy independence aligns with Vanderbilt’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. The university can develop targeted research and development programs in these areas, enhancing its contributions to national security and energy policy.
By engaging with the broader policy community and policymakers, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in the national conversation on economic and healthcare reform. Hosting conferences, workshops, and public forums on the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill can further establish Vanderbilt as a hub for innovative policy thought and practice.

Relevance Score: 4 (The bill presents the potential for major process changes required for Vanderbilt’s programs due to funding impacts and policy shifts.)

Average Relevance Score: 2.4

Timeline for Implementation

N/A: After reviewing the text, no specific deadlines or timelines for implementation of any directives were provided.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of the Treasury: The text impacts tax policies, including historic tax cuts for working- and middle-class families and incentives for domestic business activity.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Provisions protecting and strengthening Medicaid and maintaining Medicare funding directly influence program administration under HHS.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Changes to SNAP and work requirements affecting food stamp eligibility highlight implications for the agency responsible for administering these benefits.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): The legislation’s focus on border security, including completing the border wall and hiring new ICE officers, impacts DHS and its components.
Department of Defense (DoD): Investment in the Golden Dome missile defense system and military modernization efforts fall under DoD responsibilities.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO): While not an operating agency, the text directly challenges the CBO’s economic projections, influencing how the bill’s fiscal impact is assessed.

Relevance Score: 3 (Six to ten governmental organizations are impacted by the provisions and implications in the text.)

Responsible Officials

N/A – The text is a political narrative promoting a bill rather than issuing explicit directives with designated officials for implementation.

Relevance Score: 1 (The directives do not clearly target any specific agency leader or high-level official.)