The UAS Leaders
July 04, 2025
Washington D.C. – In a historic moment that could redefine America’s economic and social future, the OBBBA passed through Congress this week, clearing its final legislative hurdle with a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance. Officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA, this sweeping reconciliation package promises sweeping tax reforms, social policy cuts, and sharp shifts in America’s domestic and global priorities.
But as the ink dries and President Trump prepares to sign the bill into law on Independence Day, July 4, 2025, one looming question remains for every American: Is it beautiful—or brutally divisive?
What Exactly Is the OBBBA?
The OBBBA is a legislative giant—blending tax relief for the wealthy, social safety net cuts, massive border and defense funding, and environmental rollbacks into a single, mammoth package. It stretches over 1,200 pages and affects nearly every corner of American life—from how much you pay in taxes to how hospitals, schools, and families operate for years to come.
In essence, this bill isn’t just policy—it’s ideology made law.
Winners and Losers: Who Gains, Who Pays?
Winners
- High-Income Earners & Corporations: With permanent 2017 tax cuts and expanded deductions, top 1% households will enjoy an average tax cut of $66,000 in 2026, while business owners and investors gain broader breaks.
- Defense & Border Security Sectors: An unprecedented $300 billion boost combined pushes ICE funding beyond $100 billion by 2029.
- Select Workers: New deductions for tips and overtime will provide some relief for middle-income employees, alongside child tax credit increases and “Trump Accounts” for newborns.
Losers
- Low-Income Americans: Deep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP could leave millions uninsured or underserved, especially rural hospital patients.
- Clean Energy Sector: Rollbacks threaten the U.S.’s leadership in renewables, as solar and wind credits vanish.
- University Endowments: Rich colleges face steeper taxes, potentially limiting scholarships and global research collaborations.
Tax Policy Overhaul: Permanent Cuts, But for Whom?
The OBBBA rewrites the tax playbook with permanent extensions of the 2017 Trump-era cuts, favoring top earners:
- Households earning $460K–$1.1M get an average $21,000 cut.
- The top 0.1% (over $5M/year) will pocket nearly $300,000 annually.
- Meanwhile, middle- and low-income families see smaller, targeted relief—often offset by losses in healthcare or aid.
“This isn’t just a tax bill. It’s a statement of national priorities,” said a senior policy analyst. “And the priority clearly leans toward wealth preservation and national security.”
Endowment and Remittance Taxes: Funding the Future or Penalizing the Present?
Endowment Tax
- Applies to elite private colleges with $500K+ per student in endowment.
- Ranges from 1.4% to 8%, based on the endowment size.
- Raises $23B over 10 years, with no exemptions for religious institutions.
- Aimed at pushing universities to “spend more, hoard less.”
Remittance Tax
- 1% flat excise tax on money sent abroad—affecting immigrants, expats, and aid providers.
- No citizenship exemptions.
- Expected to generate $26B in revenue, but risks reducing aid to families in countries like Mexico, the Philippines, and Guatemala.
Climate and Energy: A Step Backward?
Environmental groups are sounding alarms:
- Clean energy tax credits for wind, solar, and EVs expire this fall, unless construction has already begun.
- The $7,500 EV credit disappears by September 2025.
- Meanwhile, coal gets a tax break, especially for steelmaking.
“It’s a seismic reversal in climate policy,” said an energy market analyst. “China and the EU are watching—because they just gained ground.”
National Security: The Biggest Winners?
- $150B more for defense includes major expansion in space, cyber, and missile programs.
- ICE becomes the largest federal law enforcement agency—with over $100B in projected funding by 2029.
- Border wall construction resumes, alongside 13,000 new hires across ICE and Border Patrol.
“This is a muscular border bill dressed as a budget,” said a former DHS official.
Global Shockwaves: What OBBBA Means Beyond Borders
The OBBBA passed by the Congress not just to reshape America—it sends ripples far beyond U.S. shores, especially across emerging economies, energy markets, and global power alignments.
- Remittance tax hits developing economies reliant on U.S. money flows.
- Clean energy retreat may cede leadership to China and the EU.
- Higher U.S. deficits could rattle global bond markets and raise borrowing costs globally.
- Cuts to social welfare might impact U.S. soft power and influence among allies with strong safety nets.
Controversies & Criticisms: A Polarizing Path
The OBBBA passed along sharply partisan lines, using budget reconciliation to bypass the filibuster. Critics point to:
- Massive deficit increases: $3.3 trillion over 10 years.
- Regressive benefit structure: Over 57% of tax cuts go to those making $217K+.
- Social cuts paired with tax breaks for the top—an image problem in an election year.
Final Verdict: Is the OBBBA Truly “Beautiful”?
Even though OBBBA passed by the congress with a majority, that depends on where you stand:
- If you’re a wealthy taxpayer, defense contractor, or border agent, this bill likely works in your favor.
- But if you’re a low-income family, a clean energy innovator, or an immigrant sending money home, OBBBA could feel more like a burden than a blessing.
As the nation heads into an election year, OBBBA may become the defining economic battleground, not just for 2025, but for the next decade.
