Don’t Be Fooled — the Big Beautiful Bill Is About Control, Not Innovation

by Emma Goos, BCDP Operations Liasion

You know something’s wrong when Elon Musk, Gavin Newsom, and Marjorie Taylor Greene are all on the same side. That just doesn’t happen. But right now, they’re united in opposition to a sweeping piece of legislation in Congress that critics have nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

The name is sarcastic. The bill itself? Massive. It’s a federal budget and policy package that tries to do just about everything — from overhauling taxes and healthcare to expanding the border wall and blocking AI regulation by states for the next decade. And that last part is where things really blow up.

Let’s break it down: what’s in this bill, why it’s drawing bipartisan outrage, and what it means for all of us.

First — The AI Power Grab

Let’s start with the most talked-about part. Tucked into the bill is a 10-year moratorium on any state passing laws to regulate artificial intelligence.

That means from now until 2035, states like California — home to some of the biggest tech companies and most proactive lawmakers — would be legally barred from creating their own AI rules. All the power goes to the federal government.

Elon Musk is calling it dangerous. Gavin Newsom says it’s a direct threat to state autonomy. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene is furious, calling it a "deeply authoritarian move." When those three agree, you know something is up.

AI is advancing at breakneck speed. And this clause would stop local governments from responding quickly if AI systems start harming workers, students, or communities.

But That’s Not All — Here’s What Else Is In It

While the AI clause is getting the headlines, the rest of the bill is packed with major, sweeping changes. Here's a closer look:

Tax Overhauls

• Extends Trump-era tax cuts, making them permanent.

• Eliminates taxes on tips and overtime pay, mainly helping service workers.**

• Raises the standard deduction and boosts the child tax credit to $2,500 until 2028.

• Introduces “MAGA Savings Accounts”, with up to $1,000 per child contributions.

• Raises the SALT cap (state and local tax deduction) from $10,000 to $40,000 for households under $500,000.

Sounds good? Maybe. But the Congressional Budget Office estimates these tax changes will add over $2.4 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.

Healthcare Cuts and Restrictions

• Adds Medicaid work requirements and stricter eligibility checks.

• Blocks Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care and certain abortion services.

• Cuts access to SNAP (food assistance) by shifting more costs to states and tightening work requirements.

Over 10 million people are projected to lose Medicaid coverage if this passes.

Education Changes

• Cuts federal student aid, eliminating subsidized loans.

• Strips the Department of Education’s authority to enforce gainful employment rules.

• Introduces “Workforce Pell Grants” for trade programs — while reducing eligibility for others.

Border and Immigration

• $46.5 billion for border wall expansion.

• Funding for 10,000 new ICE agents and more Border Patrol.

• Adds a 5% tax on remittances sent abroad by undocumented immigrants.

• Expands deportation efforts.

Defense Spending

• Pours $150 billion more into the Pentagon.

• Funds new military tech, including a “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

• Increases support for Air and Space Force programs.

Other Provisions You Might Miss

• Limits federal courts from holding officials in contempt — a major blow to checks and balances.

• Removes suppressors from federal firearm regulation.

• Guts green energy tax credits that were created to fight climate change.

What It All Means

This isn’t just a budget bill. It’s a policy wish list — a massive reworking of how the federal government taxes, spends, regulates, and intervenes in our lives. And it’s being rushed through Congress as a single package, with very little debate on each piece.

On one hand, it gives big tax breaks and boosts military spending. On the other, it strips away state power, slashes social safety nets, and puts guardrails on democracy itself.

If this bill passes as-is, the country could look very different in just a few years — less regulated, more centralized, and far more unequal.

What Can We Do About It?

The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” isn’t just a budget. It’s a sweeping attempt to lock in political priorities that benefit the wealthy, weaken states’ rights, and leave millions of people behind — all under the cover of a massive spending package.

From banning states from regulating AI, to slashing Medicaid and student aid, to expanding the border wall and shielding officials from court accountability — this bill does too much, too fast, with too little scrutiny.

We don’t have to let this happen. But we have to act now.

Here’s what you can do:

• Call your U.S. Senators and tell them to vote no on the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Make it clear you oppose the AI regulation ban, the attacks on healthcare and education, and the undermining of our democratic systems.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper or post on social media — help your community understand what’s really in this bill.

• Join or support organizations fighting for digital rights, healthcare access, education funding, and immigration justice. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment.

• Stay loud. Stay informed. Stay organized. This bill is designed to overwhelm and distract us — but if we push back together, we can stop it.

Congress is hoping this bill slides by quietly. Let’s make sure they hear us loud and clear: we see what you’re doing, and we won’t let it happen without a fight.

Source Citations

Bettelheim, Adriel. “Gavin Newsom, Elon Musk and Marjorie Taylor Greene Agree on This One Thing.” Politico, 3 June 2025, www.politico.com/news/2025/06/03/gavin-newsom-musk-greene-megabill-00383512.

“Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, 5 June 2025, www.crfb.org/blogs/breaking-down-one-big-beautiful-bill.

“Senate Adds Billions for Air Force Programs to GOP Spending Bill.” Air & Space Forces Magazine, 3 June 2025, www.airandspaceforces.com.

“These Hidden Provisions in a Budget Bill Undermine Our Democracy.” Campaign Legal Center, 4 June 2025, www.campaignlegal.org.