Big changes are coming now that Congress has approved Trump’s sweeping ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Congress just approved a bill that will make sweeping changes to the federal budget and tax laws.

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation — labeled the “Big Beautiful Bill” by President Donald Trump — that will permanently extend parts of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, slash funding for social safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP (formerly food stamps), and significantly boost defense and immigration enforcement spending, repeal many climate incentives, and expand fossil fuel development.

The U.S. Senate already passed the bill Tuesday, so the bill is heading to Trump’s desk for final approval before it becomes law.

Supporters say the extended tax cuts could offer relief to some middle-income households and small business owners, potentially lowering their federal tax burden over the long term. But critics point out that it would take resources from households with lower incomes, largely due to cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, according to a June 12 report from the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency. The AP reports that about 11.8 million adults and children across the country are at risk for losing health insurance. And the tax changes would mostly benefit the wealthiest households, the CBO said.

If the bill becomes law, most provisions in it would not take effect immediately. Tax changes will apply this year, but changes to programs like Medicaid and SNAP are scheduled to phase in over the next two to three years.

During that time, this bill could have a profound effect on people’s lives in central Virginia.

Charlottesville Tomorrow wants to hear from central Virginians who could be affected by the “Big Beautiful Bill.” If you or your family rely on programs like SNAP or Medicaid — or if you work with a local nonprofit, school, clinic, or housing provider that might be impacted — we’d like to hear your story.

We also want to connect with folks in our local immigrant communities who may have concerns about increased immigration enforcement or changes that could affect their safety and stability. If you’re willing to share, your voice can help others understand what’s at stake.

There are multiple ways you can reach us, including anonymous ones. Here is a simple form you can fill out. (This is a standing form we’ve created to gather community input as we report on the local impact of the Trump administration’s actions.)

While we can’t cover every story that’s important to you, we do our best to be responsive to your needs. We use tips from readers to choose which stories to cover, to incorporate information into broader reports or to help us decide how to grow Charlottesville Tomorrow. Here’s where you can tell us what you think we should be covering.

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