On July 3, the U.S. House approved the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which incorporates major elements of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda regarding taxes and immigration. This significant legislation is now set to reach the president’s desk for his signature.
The passage of the bill drew mixed reactions from various groups, including Catholic leaders who voiced both approval and criticism. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, emphasized in a statement on the same day that the bishops have consistently urged lawmakers to ensure the legislation benefits families in need and to reconsider parts of the bill that undermine the poor and vulnerable.
Interestingly, only two Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania, diverged from their party to vote against the bill. Massie expressed concerns over the projected increase in national debt, while Fitzpatrick, who identifies as Catholic, criticized the potential Medicaid cuts impacting his constituents.
The vote in favor of the legislation occurred amidst a strong Democratic push to block what is deemed Trump’s hallmark legislative initiative, highlighted by a record-breaking floor address by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law on July 4.
In a separate but closely related development, the week also saw the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after an extensive six-decade history. The agency was officially absorbed by the State Department on July 1. Notable former presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, addressed the agency’s employees through virtual messages as they prepared for their last day of operation on June 30.
The dismantling of USAID signals significant cuts to humanitarian aid efforts globally, including funding that supports Catholic and other faith-based organizations. In his remarks, Obama described the gutting of USAID as a “travesty” and a “tragedy,” stressing the critical nature of the agency’s work around the world. He asserted that sooner or later, leaders from both political sides will recognize the vital contributions of the agency’s staff.
Bush, too, expressed gratitude for the efforts of USAID employees, stating, “You’ve showed the great strength of America through your work — and that is your good heart.” Amid concerns regarding the future of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), a program tasked with combating HIV/AIDS, Bush argued for its continuation based on its historical successes, highlighting that it has saved 25 million lives and reduced the spread of the epidemic.
“Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you,” Bush stated, underscoring the importance of the program.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a Substack post on July 1 that foreign assistance programs aligning with administration policies will be retained under the State Department’s purview, assuring that they will be managed with greater efficiency and accountability. He emphasized the need for humanitarian efforts to complement an “America First” foreign policy stance.
Expressing concern for the impacted individuals, Bono, the U2 frontman and an advocate for HIV/AIDS initiatives, also addressed the former USAID staffers, stating, “You were the best of us; there for the rest of us.” He went on to declare that advocating for humanitarian aid should not be seen as a political stance, asserting that “it’s not left-wing rhetoric to feed the hungry, heal the sick.”
In another significant legal development, the U.S. Supreme Court on July 3 authorized the Trump administration to deport eight migrants currently detained at an American military base in Djibouti to South Sudan, despite the absence of any legal or personal ties to that country.
A prior federal court ruling had blocked these deportations, expressing concerns over the risks of torture the individuals would face upon arrival in South Sudan. However, the Supreme Court’s latest ruling followed a previous decision that allowed for the deportations to proceed.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, with Sotomayor expressing deep concern that the government’s actions would leave the deportees vulnerable to a high likelihood of facing torture or even death upon their arrival in South Sudan.
Immigration advocates, particularly within the Catholic community, have raised alarms regarding these deportations, fearing the ramifications for those involved.
Finally, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a report on June 30 detailing grave concerns regarding religious persecution in Russia and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. USCIRF outlined a persistent pattern of severe violations of religious freedoms perpetrated by the Russian government.
The commission noted that various religious groups are subjected to persecution under vague laws that the government employs to target individuals and organizations seen as a threat. The report highlighted that followers of various religions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, Falun Gong practitioners, and Ukrainian Christians—including Catholics—face abuse and harassment.
Making specific recommendations, USCIRF urged the U.S. Department of State to designate Russia as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to its systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom. USCIRF has created similar designations for non-state actors engaging in such violations.
With these developments, both the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the closure of USAID symbolize significant shifts in U.S. domestic and foreign policy, reflecting the broader implications for communities and individuals both locally and globally.
image source from：thedialog
