Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” faces resistance from Republican senators over projected $5 trillion debt ceiling hike.

Internal GOP Divide Over Massive Spending Plan

President Donald Trump's sweeping legislative package, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is facing growing skepticism within his own party, as Republican senators raise alarms over its potential to increase the national debt by trillions of dollars. The bill, which passed the House narrowly on May 22, now awaits Senate approval amid heightened fiscal concerns.

The legislation addresses a broad range of priorities, including tax reform, border security, defense, energy production, and adjustments to entitlement programs such as SNAP and Medicaid. However, its projected $5 trillion debt ceiling increase and estimated $2.3 trillion addition to budget deficits over a decade have sparked intra-party debate.

Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., is among at least four Republican senators who remain opposed. “We have never raised the debt ceiling without actually meeting that target,” Paul said this week. “So you can say it doesn't directly add to the debt, but if you increase the ceiling $5 trillion, you'll meet that. Then we won't discuss it for a year or two.”

As of Tuesday, U.S. national debt stood at $36.2 trillion, while the federal deficit — the yearly gap between government spending and revenue — reached $1 trillion, according to Treasury Department data. Critics argue the bill worsens the country’s long-term fiscal trajectory despite stated growth objectives.

President Trump defended the legislation in a TRUTH Social post, pushing back against Paul’s criticism. “Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming,” Trump wrote. “The BBB is a big WINNER!!!”

Elon Musk, who recently stepped down from his position as Trump’s head of the Department of Government Efficiency, condemned the bill in stark terms. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk posted on X. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office, tax cuts and reforms under the bill are projected to add nearly $3.8 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. While reductions in other areas offset some of this, the net effect remains a $2.3 trillion increase. Supporters argue the economic growth generated by these measures will boost revenues over time.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed criticisms based on CBO projections, stating, “The blatantly wrong claim that the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ increases the deficit is based on scorekeepers who use shoddy assumptions and have historically failed at forecasting.”

Despite the pushback, House Republicans passed the bill by a narrow margin of 215-214, with one abstention. Should the Senate amend the bill, it would require another House vote before advancing to Trump’s desk.

To counter skepticism, the White House launched a public-facing website that allows Americans to calculate potential personal savings under the bill. However, some Republicans, such as Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., remain cautious. “We don't want to bankrupt the country,” Perry said, adding that additional green energy subsidies might worsen fiscal strain.

The bill’s fate now hinges on whether Senate Republicans can find consensus on the long-term implications for debt, spending, and economic growth. With internal divisions widening, its path forward remains uncertain.