In a narrow vote of 218 to 214, House Republicans—led by Speaker Mike Johnson—passed President Donald Trump’s signature domestic policy bill, now named the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill was signed at a lavish July 4th party at the White House. The legislation slashes health and nutrition programs relied on by millions of Americans, including large numbers of queer people, while extending tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans.
Only two Republicans, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, joined all Democrats in opposition. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a marathon eight-hour and 45-minute floor speech to delay the bill, calling it an extraordinary assault on the health care of the American people. The bill cuts Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, and Planned Parenthood funding, and pours billions into immigration enforcement.
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement,
“This disaster of a bill has always been about one thing: funneling more wealth to the ultra-rich while hard working Americans — including LGBTQ+ people — suffer.”
One of the bill’s most extreme measures—a nationwide ban on gender-affirming care under Medicaid—was removed after intervention by Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough and behind-the-scenes work by Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Sarah McBride. Still, LGBTQ advocates warn of severe impacts. The bill could push 14 million people off Medicaid, a program vital to queer communities and those living with HIV. Cuts to mental health clinics and stricter food stamp rules hit LGBTQ people, especially trans people and people of color. For Democrats, the bill has become a powerful symbol of what they call Republican extremism — and a political weapon they’re ready to wield against vulnerable GOP incumbents in the 2026 midterms. Both the House and Senate are controlled by MAGA Republicans but by only a few seats. This means the mid-term elections of November 2026 will be a major milestone for LGBTQ rights in America.
