President Donald Trump may have seen his preferred One Big Beautiful Bill name for the tax and spending package dropped by the Senate, but the sweeping legislation would still deliver hundreds of millions toward his pet projects.
Lawmakers are aiming to the send the reconciliation megabill to Trump’s desk as soon as this week with plenty of policies favored by the president, including funds to revamp the Kennedy Center after his takeover, build out events for America’s 250th birthday and give newborn babies $1,000 in accounts bearing his name.
The Trump-favored provisions represent continued attempts from Republicans in Congress to show their loyalty to the president and his priorities. Republicans have defended those projects as necessary, while Democrats have blasted them as “pork” but have had no success in removing them.
“It’s about one big party for Trump, it’s about swelling up his ego,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said Wednesday.
America’s 250th Anniversary
Next year will mark America’s 250th birthday, and the celebrations involved have become a priority for Trump. He set up a task force in January to work on it.
The legislation will provide $150 million to the Interior Department for events, and activities around the observance and commemoration of the founding of the nation.
Trump is already focused on the next anniversary — he’s heading to Iowa on Thursday “to kick off the very beginning of our exciting Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary,” he announced this week.
‘Garden of Heroes’
The megabill would also provide $40 million for the procurement of statues for the National Garden of American Heroes. The garden was deemed a priority for Trump in his first term, where he issued an executive order on building it in 2021.
The garden – which will be constructed for the 2026 semiquincentennial at a yet-be-determined location – will have “life-size statues of 250 great individuals,” according to the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Democrats are using it as an attack point.
“This bill is loaded with outrageous special interest giveaways and President Trump’s personal political priorities,” Sen.
Rep.
Kennedy Center Repair
One of Trump’s early moves in his second term was to name himself chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He’s made it a mission of his administration to remake the center, both the building and the performances.
“Kennedy Center is in tremendous disrepair,” Trump told reporters in March. “We’ll make it great again.”
The megabill would provide around $256.7 million for capital repairs, restoration and security structures for the building, which is around six times more than an annual appropriations for the center.
‘Trump Accounts’
Newborn babies would get a $1,000 in savings accounts bearing the president’s name.
Trump held an event at the White House in June to tout the accounts, calling it “one of the most exciting parts” of the bill. The measure would create a pilot program to provide the one-time tax refund for children born between 2025 and 2028.
The accounts were at one point called “MAGA accounts” but were eventually renamed Trump accounts. The idea of the savings accounts for newborns has been floated in recent years and had some bipartisan support before the Trump branding.
Protecting the President’s Properties
It can be costly to protect the president’s private residences.
The bill includes $300 million to reimburse law enforcement agencies for costs associated with protecting private presidential residences at the request of the Secret Service. The program, which would see a boost with these funds, has in the past made “improper reimbursements,” according to an inspector general report.
Trump often spends time at Mar-a-Lago, and Palm Beach County commissioners have had to transfer millions this year to the sheriff for presidential protection activities.
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