A late-night House Rules Committee hearing on former President Donald Trump’s new tax proposal sparked heated criticism from Democrats, who argue the legislation would harm American families and worsen the country’s birth rate crisis.
The bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” by Trump, aims to make his 2017 tax cuts permanent while slashing funding for several domestic programs. If passed, it would represent one of the most significant overhauls of federal spending in recent years.
Rep. Waters: “Families can’t afford to have kids”
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) didn’t hold back during the hearing, held just after 1 a.m. Wednesday. She accused Republicans of pushing a bill that contradicts their “pro-family” messaging while making it harder for working families to afford basic needs.
“Americans are so economically anxious they’re delaying parenthood and homeownership,” Waters said. “This bill doesn’t support families—it abandons them.”
Fertility rates fall while costs rise
The U.S. birth rate has fallen to 1.6 births per woman, far below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to sustain population levels without immigration, according to a 2025 Congressional Budget Office forecast.
Despite that drop, the legislation proposes cuts to federal agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which Waters says would lose 70% of its funding under the plan.
“This bill gives tax breaks to billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg while gutting consumer protections,” Waters added.
Trump, Musk, and JD Vance promote bill as pro-growth
Trump has framed the bill as an economic game-changer, calling it “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape the tax system. Vice President JD Vance and DOGE Director Elon Musk have also championed the legislation as a path toward boosting wages and encouraging families to grow.
“We want more babies, to put it nicely,” Trump said in a campaign speech late last year.
Still, critics argue that the proposed cuts would leave families more financially vulnerable, especially as inflation and housing costs remain high.
GOP rushes bill forward amid public backlash
Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) questioned the decision to fast-track the legislation in a middle-of-the-night vote.
“If this tax break is so great, why not pass it in the light of day?” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “What don’t they want the public to see?”
The bill could reach the House floor for a full vote as early as Wednesday afternoon.
What happens next
If approved by the full House, the legislation will move to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. Civil rights groups and economic policy watchdogs are already preparing legal and lobbying efforts to block the measure, citing concerns over equity and long-term economic impact.
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