INSIDE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES REPUBLICANS MADE TO TRUMP'S BIG TAX-CUT BILL AHEAD OF VOTE: KEY POINTS
House Republican leaders unveiled the finishing touches to their “big, beautiful bill” (tax cut and immigration bill) as they tried to win over GOP holdouts and pass the bill through the House. The revisions were rolled out on late Wednesday evening, just before the House started an all-night session to debate and vote on the bill. President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to get behind the legislation, which enacts some of his campaign promises.
If the bill clears the House, it would move to the Senate for further consideration. Here's a look at key changes made by the Republicans:
Public Land Sales Removed: Provisions allowing the sale of hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in Nevada and Utah were eliminated. Some Republican lawmakers from Western states had raised objections to these sales.
Renaming of Federal Baby Accounts: The new investment accounts for children born between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2028—originally called “MAGA” accounts—will now be named “Trump” accounts. Each account includes a $1,000 federal contribution for eligible newborns.
Earlier Medicaid Work Requirement: The start date for new work requirements for certain able-bodied Medicaid beneficiaries has been moved up from January 1, 2029, to December 31, 2026. House Speaker Mike Johnson noted the original date was intended to allow states time to prepare, but the change reflects pressure from Republicans who wanted faster implementation.
Increase in SALT Deduction Cap: The revised bill raises the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 for households earning up to $500,000. For incomes above that threshold, the deduction will gradually phase out. The cap and income limit will increase by 1% annually over the next decade, a rate below typical inflation. This change helped secure support from Republicans in high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, and California.
Deregulation of Gun Silencers: A new provision removes gun silencers from the national registry governed by the National Firearms Act, which also covers machine guns and certain short-barreled firearms. The bill had already proposed eliminating the $200 excise tax on silencers.
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Retirement Pension Calculation Unchanged: Republicans removed a proposal to change the formula for federal employee retirement pensions. Annuities will continue to be calculated based on the average of a worker’s highest three years of income, rather than switching to a five-year average, which had been suggested as a cost-saving measure.
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Border Security Grant Fund Created: The legislation establishes a $12 billion fund managed by the Homeland Security Secretary. These funds will be used to reimburse states for costs associated with migrant detention, removal, and other border security efforts.
Clean Energy Tax Credit Changes: The bill accelerates the phaseout of tax credits for wind, solar, and battery storage technologies under the Inflation Reduction Act, moving the phaseout date to 2028.
(With inputs from AP)