By Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, is drawing a hard line against the House GOP’s sprawling “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a betrayal of conservative fiscal principles and a dangerous step toward deepening America’s debt crisis. In a blunt appearance on Sunday Morning Futures, the Kentucky senator denounced the legislation for what he sees as a reckless abandonment of any pretense of spending restraint.
Paul is usually an ally of President Donald Trump.
“They’re going to explode the debt,” Paul said, warning that the bill’s proposed $4 trillion debt ceiling increase over two years would plunge the country into even deeper fiscal peril. “That’s just not conservative,” he added, emphasizing that he might be open to voting for the bill if the debt hike were removed—but not otherwise. “There’s got to be someone left in Washington who thinks debt is wrong and deficits are wrong,” Paul insisted.
🚨 JUST IN: Senator Rand Paul says he does not support the Big Beautiful Bill because of the growing deficit and debt.
"They're going to explode the debt… that's just not conservative. I've told them if they strip out the debt ceiling, I'll consider, even with the… pic.twitter.com/nYkbKEUcBs
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 25, 2025
“If they were to take the debt ceiling off of it and have the tax reductions and spending reductions, I’d probably vote for that,” he added. “The spending reductions are imperfect, and I think wimpy, but I’d still vote for the package if I didn’t have to vote to raise the debt ceiling.”
Paul predicted Trump and the Republican Party will “own” future deficits if they pass a budget reconciliation bill that adds another $4 trillion on to the debt, wrote The Hill.
“Republicans now own the debt, and Republicans now own the spending. There’s no more blaming, ‘Oh, it’s [former President] Biden’s fault.’ The deficit is fully and completely owned by Republicans after this bill,” he said.
Senate Republicans control a 53-seat majority, which means Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) can afford only three defections from within his conference and still pass Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”
The bill, designed to codify key elements of President Trump’s second-term agenda, includes making tax cuts permanent and overhauling regulatory authority. But for Paul, any economic upside is drowned out by the sheer scale of deficit spending. His opposition lands at a critical juncture, as the national debt—already at $27.75 trillion after ballooning 39% during Trump’s first term—continues to climb.
Adding fuel to Paul’s warning, the Congressional Budget Office projects that annual deficits could reach 6.1% of GDP by 2035, outpacing revenue and compounding interest obligations. Paul argues that unless Congress reverses course, the U.S. risks locking in a permanent structural deficit that will crush future generations under mounting obligations.
While the “Big Beautiful Bill” enjoys broad support from Trump-aligned Republicans eager to notch a legislative win, Paul’s resistance highlights a growing rift in the GOP over what it means to govern as fiscal conservatives. Despite his support for parts of the package—including its tax provisions—Paul views the larger bill as a vehicle for more irresponsible borrowing.
His skepticism is reinforced by recent economic findings, including research from the National Bureau of Economic Research showing that prior tax cuts had limited long-term effects on business investment and GDP growth. In Paul’s view, deficit-financed tax policy remains a gamble with few proven returns.
As the Senate prepares for debate, Paul’s message is clear: Republicans can’t keep campaigning on fiscal responsibility while voting to raise the debt ceiling by trillions. Whether that warning sticks—or is steamrolled by political expediency—will help determine the nation’s economic direction for years to come.
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