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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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President Donald Trump's latest push for a sweeping tax and spending package—branded the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—is facing strong headwinds with voters.
Two recent polls show that approval of the bill is way underwater.
Why It Matters
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is central to Trump's economic agenda and Republican hopes of reshaping federal spending, but its widespread unpopularity could complicate the path forward.
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What To Know
According to the latest Quinnipiac University national poll, conducted June 5-9 among 1,265 self-identified registered voters, 53 percent oppose the bill, while just 27 percent support it, resulting in a net approval of -26 points. Another 20 percent remain unsure. A KFF poll from June 4-8, surveying 1,321 U.S. adults, reveals an even steeper disapproval with a net support of -29 points: 64 percent view the bill unfavorably, compared to 35 percent who view it favorably.
Both polls also show that support for the bill is divided across party lines.
According to Quinnipiac, among Republicans, 67 percent back the bill, while only 10 percent oppose it, and 22 percent say they have no opinion. Democrats are overwhelmingly opposed, with 89 percent against the bill and just 2 percent in support. Independents also reject the legislation by a wide margin—57 percent oppose it, to 20 percent who support it, and 23 percent remain undecided.
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Meanwhile, the KFF poll shows that six in 10 Republicans have a favorable opinion of the bill compared to large majorities of both independents (71 percent) and Democrats (85 percent) who have an unfavorable opinion. Support for the legislation rises as high as 72 percent among MAGA supporters. Yet, among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who are not MAGA supporters, two-thirds (66 percent) have an unfavorable view of the bill.
CNN pollster Harry Enten's analysis shows that among independents, the bill has a -41 net favorability rating.
The bill, a sprawling $4.9 trillion package packed with tax breaks, budget cuts and new Medicaid work requirements, barely scraped through the House last month by a razor-thin 215-214 vote, with two Republicans breaking ranks to vote "no." Now, it faces fierce opposition and internal squabbles in the Senate.
At the heart of the Senate's turmoil is the proposed $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade. The Senate's version seeks to phase out special provider taxes, ramp up work requirements and impose tighter eligibility restrictions, even on parents of school-age children. Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Susan Collins of Maine have sounded alarms, warning that these changes could devastate rural hospitals and low-income communities and trigger a surge in uninsured Americans, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Public anxiety mirrors these concerns. KFF polling reveals the harsh reality for Medicaid recipients if the bill passes: 68 percent say losing coverage would make it "very difficult" to afford prescription drugs; 59 percent fear they wouldn't be able to see a health care provider; 56 percent worry about finding alternative insurance. The human toll runs deep as three-quarters say losing Medicaid would severely harm their financial well-being, with similar proportions reporting devastating effects on their quality of life, mental health and physical health.
Yet, despite the looming cuts, public support for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is surging. Medicaid's approval rating now stands at 83 percent—up 6 points since January—including overwhelming support from Democrats (93 percent), independents (83 percent) and even Republicans (74 percent). ACA favorability has also climbed, now embraced by two-thirds of Americans, echoing public reaction during the 2017 repeal fight. Across the political spectrum, most voters agree that government should guarantee health insurance for those who can't afford it.
The poll also shows that the bill's controversial Medicaid work requirements initially enjoy broad support as 68 percent of the public, including 90 percent of Republicans and MAGA supporters, back the idea. But once voters learn that most Medicaid recipients already work, support plummets to just 35 percent. Moreover, approval among Republicans and MAGA supporters plunges by at least 20 points when they learn the bill would raise the uninsured rate and slash funding for local hospitals.
On Medicaid funding, the Quinnipiac poll found that 47 percent of voters want federal funding increased, 40 percent want it maintained and a mere 10 percent favor cuts. The partisan split is stark: Only 21 percent of Republicans want increased funding, while 56 percent prefer current levels and 18 percent back cuts. Conversely, 69 percent of Democrats want funding increased, with just 2 percent supporting reductions. Independents largely side with Democrats, with 47 percent favoring increases.
Fiscal hawks are raising alarms about the bill's impact on the national debt. The Congressional Budget Office warned that the legislation could add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, potentially soaring to $5 trillion if some business tax breaks are made permanent. Elon Musk, once a Trump ally, took to his X, formerly Twitter, to blast the bill as a "disgusting abomination" and a "massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill" that threatens America's financial future.
Meanwhile, Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have voiced sharp criticism, arguing that the bill fails to rein in federal spending.
What People Are Saying
Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy: "With Medicaid's future as a health care safety net for millions suddenly uncertain, voters make it clear
they want the 60-year-old program for those in need to be handled with care."
CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten: "The amount of disapproval for this bill—holy cow, my goodness gracious! We're talking about 29 points underwater on the net favorable rating...we're talking about a negative 41 net favorability rating among independents. You rarely ever see proposed pieces of legislation as unpopular as this...no good."
What Happens Next
Senate Republicans plan to bring the bill to a committee vote in the coming weeks.
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