In a stunning act of legislative regression, the U.S. Senate and House have approved H.R.1 – 2025-2026, cynically dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.” This legislation extends tax cuts originally enacted in 2017 for large corporations and high-income individuals, while simultaneously slashing essential federal aid programs like Medicaid and food subsidies that serve low-income Americans.
This is not just a policy decision - it’s a moral failure.
At its core, this bill defies the ethical teachings found in every major religious and moral tradition, including Christianity, which calls on the rich to support the poor—not enrich themselves further at their expense. The Bible speaks clearly: “Blessed are the poor.” Yet this legislation, crafted and championed almost entirely by GOP lawmakers—many of whom claim deep Christian convictions—violates that principle outright. The hypocrisy is staggering.
The scope of this bill is not only immoral, but also economically destructive. It represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in modern history—from those with the least to those with the most. In a democracy founded on equality and justice, this kind of top-down redistribution should raise alarm bells in every corner of the nation.
Despite its immense wealth, the United States continues to grapple with persistent poverty. The roots of this problem run deep—through the legacies of slavery, the displacement of Native peoples, the marginalization of rural communities, and now, the unchecked power of corporate capitalism. What we are witnessing today is a new form of economic colonization: not one imposed on distant lands but inflicted upon our own people.
Unlike the colonial empires of the old, which plundered foreign nations, today’s system exploits communities within our borders. The promise of “financial freedom” is reserved only for wealthy investors and multinational corporations. Working people, meanwhile, are paid poverty wages, stripped of protection, and told to be grateful.
The data is sobering. Extending the 2017 tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans will add an estimated $3.7 trillion to their fortunes over the next decade—while inflating the national debt. At the same time, the bill enacts a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and reduces food assistance by $300 billion. These programs are not luxuries, they are lifelines.
This bill allocates an additional $150 billion to a federal agency for the construction of more detention centers—facilities that physically and symbolically divide people into “us” versus “them.” It also expands funding for the hiring of hundreds of ICE agents, some of whom have reportedly conducted arrests without warrants. In some cases, ICE officers wear masks to conceal their identities, raising serious concerns about violations of constitutional rights and basic human rights.
Is there a better way to spend this money?
Perhaps this $150B can be better used to engage and aid countries and societies from which many immigrants attempt to come to US for economic and social justice or people that we displace through our war machine. This is a better alternative where they see more of our humane face and reduce our sin for collective inhumanity to vulnerable immigrants and migrants.
What to do?
The greater the challenge, the greater the need for bold action – strong and active voices in the face of social, economic, and moral injustice. The 2026 ballot box represents a powerful tool we all can use to push back against these rising inequities. By speaking out—individually and collectively—and engaging with our elected officials now, we can help ensure they represent the interests of the entire population, not the lobbyists funding their campaigns.
Each of us must stay informed and take part in social and economic dialogue to move our country toward greater equity and compassion.
