Utah's Republican House members have frequently portrayed themselves as budget hawks and guardians of fiscal responsibility. But, when asked about a new analysis showing their party's latest tax package could blast a $4 trillion hole in the federal budget, they remained silent.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office delivered a brutal assessment of the 2025 reconciliation bill, concluding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion by 2034, mostly by extending the tax cuts passed during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The analysis found that the nation's wealthiest would reap massive tax breaks under the plan, while America's most vulnerable citizens would face deep cuts to essential services:
- The proposal cuts roughly $700 billion from Medicaid.
- $267 billion in reduced federal spending on SNAP, more commonly known as food stamps.
Rep. Blake Moore, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee and House Budget Committee, is part of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum — a group of Congressional Democrats and Republicans who are focused on the “nation’s unsustainable debt trajectory.” Last year, Moore slammed the Biden administration for failing to address government spending that contributed to a growing federal deficit.
In a taped video message played for Republican delegates at Saturday’s Utah GOP Convention, Moore said extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts was a critical priority.
“This is extremely pro-growth policy that helps grow the economy, increase revenues and does wholly good things for American families and businesses,” Moore said.
Moore, who is also a co-chair of the House DOGE Caucus, which is focused on cutting wasteful government spending, did not respond to questions about how he squares his opposition to federal deficits with the CBO analysis of the reconciliation package.
In 2021, Rep. Burgess Owens attacked Congressional Democrats and the Biden administration when the CBO concluded the Build Back Better Act would increase the federal deficit by $367 billion, calling the spending bill a “scam” that would “cripple families in Utah and across the country.”
At Saturday’s GOP convention, Owens also threw his support behind the megabill, suggesting it was also getting a boost from the divine.
“I expect us to get this big, beautiful bill together, get it done,” Owens said. “Heavenly Father has a perfect plan. And his plan says we have the right president, and know that with this perfect plan, we’re going to come out as big winners on this one.”
Owens’s office did not respond to questions about the new CBO analysis from Utah Political Watch.
Rep. Mike Kennedy has also warned about how the national debt will impact future generations.
“In Washington, D.C., it seems like we have a constant credit card. But the worst thing about that credit card is it’s on our great-grandchildren’s tab,” Kennedy said to GOP delegates on Saturday.
Kennedy, who is a physician, has pushed back against claims that the reconciliation package would lead to Americans losing healthcare coverage, dismissing those concerns as “fearmongering.”
The CBO says that because of spending cuts in the reconciliation package, approximately 15 million Americans would lose their health coverage.
Instead, Kennedy claims the Medicaid program is rife with fraud and abuse, and any cuts would be addressing that problem.
“It’s shocking to watch. Right now, there’s over a million illegal immigrants on Medicaid,” Kennedy said on Saturday. To that end, he’s sponsoring legislation to require proof of citizenship for Medicaid recipients to help cut spending.
“We should have done this 30 years ago, is that if you are an illegal alien, you will not be on Medicaid. You need to prove citizenship before you get on Medicaid. We as United States citizens do not have the money or capacity to feed, clothe and give health care to the whole world.”
Kennedy’s office did not answer questions about the CBO analysis of the reconciliation package.
Rep. Celeste Maloy has not been as outspoken on debt and deficits as her colleagues in the delegation. However, she did join the DOGE caucus, a group of Republican lawmakers focused on efforts “to dismantle the out-of-control bureaucracy, cut wasteful programs, slash excess regulations, and restructure federal agencies,” when it was first formed.
Maloy also sent a taped message to GOP delegates on Saturday where she dismissed criticism of the reconciliation bill.
“We’re getting really close on Trump’s one big, beautiful bill, the reconciliation bill you’ve heard so much about. There’s a lot of hype out there, a lot of bad headlines. But, don’t forget, it’s a great time to be a Republican,” Maloy said. “The American people can see we’re serious about delivering on our promises.”
Just like her colleagues, Maloy’s office did not respond to questions about the CBO analysis from Utah Political Watch.
