U.S. President Donald Trump’s 'One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA),' signed earlier this month, has once again come under controversy. It has been revealed that the 900-page bill, which aims for substantial tax cuts and reductions in social welfare expenditure, contains numerous provisions unrelated to its original intent.
On the 16th (local time), the Washington Post reported that various bills that had been pending for years were added during the voting process in both the House and Senate for the OBBBA. Critics are raising concerns that the bill has deteriorated into a 'Christmas tree bill' with numerous budget items, including Trump’s personal projects and space development budgets.
In fact, many items contradicting the original intent of the bill have been found. For instance, the project to create 'America’s Garden of Heroes' has been allocated a budget of $40 million (approximately 55.7 billion won) for designing statues of various heroes. Trump's plan includes installing statues of more than 200 figures such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, director Alfred Hitchcock, and singer Elvis Presley in the park.
Additionally, it is reported that a budget of $150 million has been allocated for the 250th anniversary celebrations of U.S. independence in 2026. According to government officials, the funds will be used broadly for the commemorative event, heritage preservation, and the creation of commemorative sculptures, while Trump is also considering hosting UFC events at the White House.
The space development budget has also been allocated contrary to the direction of the Trump administration. A budget of $10 billion has been earmarked under the leadership of Senator Ted Cruz from Texas, which will be used for the lunar landing project and the operation of the International Space Station. This allocation has drawn criticism as it directly contradicts the Trump administration's previous proposal of a 25% cut to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) budget.
Provisions targeting the voting intentions of district representatives have also been found. For example, a new item for 'deducting meal expenses for fishing vessels north of 50 degrees north latitude' has been established, which is interpreted as aimed at Senator Lisa Murkowski, who represents Alaska. This item centers on providing tax benefits for the fishing activities of Alaska's indigenous communities.
There are also concerns about tax benefits skewed toward certain industries. The oil and gas industry will receive some exemptions from the corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) designating a threshold for tax payments, and a new tax-exempt interest provision for space and port construction bonds has been included. The capital gains tax exemption limit, previously applicable to startup founders and early investors, has been increased from $10 million to $15 million, suggesting that Silicon Valley will also benefit.
The OBBBA, which contains key elements of President Trump’s second-term policy agenda, has passed through the House and Senate amendments and was ultimately passed by Congress after several twists and turns. On the 4th, U.S. Independence Day, Trump officially signed it, confirming its effectiveness as law.