‘Big beautiful bill’ hangs in balance as House alterations made public

The fate of the “one big beautiful” bill remains unclear as Freedom Caucus members hinge their support on whether the deal they made with President Donald Trump earlier on Wednesday is cemented in the legislative text.

The manager’s amendment, which allows for alterations to the bill, dropped a little before 9 p.m. Among the changes were a higher cap of $40,000 for the state and local tax deduction, a key demand of blue-state Republicans; Medicaid work requirements that begin Dec. 31, 2026, instead of 2029; and an earlier phase-out date for some of the Inflation Reduction Act energy credits. The latter two were sticking points for the Freedom Caucus.