Sweeping Trump Agenda Bill with $157 Billion Defense Boost, Food Aid Cuts Approved by Congress

Trump Agenda Bill with $157 Billion : Recently, the US Parliament (Congress) has passed a very big and important bill, named “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. This bill has increased the defense budget of America drastically and many big decisions have been taken related to it. But while on the one hand billions of dollars have been given to strengthen the army and military power, on the other hand many social schemes have been cut – especially those schemes which were made for ex-servicemen and their families.

Let us understand this whole issue in detail – what is this new law, who will get how much benefit, and whose life will be adversely affected by it.

Big victory for America’s defense policy

This bill was passed in both houses of the US Parliament – House of Representatives (by a close vote of 218-214) and Senate. Now under this law, America’s defense expenditure has been increased from $848 billion to nearly $1 trillion (more than $1,000 billion).

Former President Donald Trump’s thinking is believed to be the main reason behind this bill. Trump has always believed in the policy of ‘Peace Through Strength’. Under this policy, he emphasized on increasing the strength of the army, accelerating the production of weapons and developing technologically advanced military resources.

In which areas will the most money be spent?

In this bill, funds have been allocated for many big defense schemes. See in the table below how much money will be spent in which areas:

• Shipbuilding – $29 billion
• Weapons and ammunition – $25 billion
• Golden Dome missile defense system – $25 billion
• Soldiers’ quality of life improvement plan – $9 billion

Golden Dome is an advanced missile defense system designed to destroy enemy missiles in the air itself. America is investing heavily to make it more modern so that it can deal with any war situation.

$1 billion has also been given for barracks repair, which will be equally divided among the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force. Apart from this, a provision of $350 million has been made for the Marine Corps’ “Barracks 2030” plan and $2 billion for improving military health services.

Where the cuts were made: SNAP and social schemes

While on the one hand the army has been strengthened financially, on the other hand social welfare schemes have been cut. There has been a huge cut in the funding of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) i.e. food assistance scheme, commonly called “food stamps”.

Now the responsibility of this scheme has been put on the states, due to which the state governments are worried. The cuts on this scheme will have a direct impact on about 12 lakh veterans, who are currently dependent on SNAP.

Apart from this, the rate of hunger in military families is already higher than average, and now when this scheme is being cut, their problems may increase further. The biggest thing is that the rules made in 2023, under which ex-servicemen were exempted from the work requirement, now they have also been put under the condition of working again.

Read more: Social Security Major Tax Change Incoming? SSA Praises Trump’s Bold Agenda Bill!

Anger of ex-soldiers

Organizations like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America have strongly criticized this bill. They say that the government has betrayed the soldiers who risked their lives for the country. Schemes like SNAP are very important for them, because many ex-soldiers face mental, financial and health challenges.

For example, many soldiers who return from war have problems like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), which affects their ability to work. In such a situation, if food aid is also taken away, life will become even more difficult for them.

Internal politics: Differences within the Republican Party

To pass this bill, the Republican Party adopted a strategy called budget reconciliation, due to which they did not need the approval of the Democratic Party. However, there was a lot of controversy within the party itself.

Some Republican MPs wanted to cut even more social schemes, while some felt that injustice was being done to the health insurance scheme (Medicaid) and military families.

Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania) were the two Republican MPs who voted against this bill. When the vote in the Senate got stuck at a tie, Vice President JD Vance passed it by casting the deciding vote.

Political results and future path

This bill is an indication of America’s future policy – in which increasing military force, strengthening the defense industry and immigration control have been given priority. But the question is, are the real needs of the soldiers and their families being ignored?

Although money has been given to improve barracks, military technology and health services, by cutting food, education and basic facilities, perhaps the government is turning away from the real problems of those soldiers who are trying to live a normal life after the war.

It is also worth thinking that if a soldier’s child is going hungry in school or his family is struggling to arrange food, then are we really respecting their service?

Conclusion

Looking at the “Beautiful Bill Act”, it can be clearly said that America is now making military power its priority. But when this power leaves behind the people who have built it, then these policies come under question.

It is clear from this bill that the increase in defense spending is directly related to the reduction in social assistance. In such a situation, the next question is: Is this really a “Beautiful Bill”? Or is it just a one-sided policy that is far from balance?

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