President Donald Trump just wrapped one of the most impactful weeks of his second term, signing into law a sweeping policy package and rolling out new executive actions that are already making waves in Arizona.
Tax Cuts and Social Program Reductions
On July 4, Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a wide-ranging piece of legislation that delivers tax cuts and slashes funding for social programs like Medicaid and SNAP. The bill also fulfills several of Trump’s campaign promises, including billions for border security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Among the law’s provisions are:
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No taxes on many types of tips and overtime pay
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$1,000 savings accounts for children born from 2024 to 2028
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Cuts to renewable energy programs
While Trump celebrated the bill as a promise fulfilled, the Congressional Budget Office estimates it will add more than $3 trillion to the national deficit over the next ten years. Health policy group KFF warned that as many as 340,000 Arizonans could lose Medicaid coverage over the same period.
New Costs for Foreign Visitors to Arizona Parks
Trump also signed an executive order aimed at raising entrance fees for foreign tourists visiting national parks, including the Grand Canyon. The move is part of his “America First” agenda to make park access more affordable for U.S. families.
“From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories,” the order stated.
Arizona is home to 22 of the country’s 63 national parks, drawing millions of visitors each year. The order also proposes increasing the cost of the America the Beautiful Pass for non-U.S. residents, which currently costs $80 annually and covers entry to lands managed by various federal agencies.
Push for ‘Self-Deportation’ Intensifies in Arizona
The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave voluntarily. Flyers from the Department of Justice—spotted in Phoenix immigration courts—urge immigrants to “self-deport.” The flyers are also part of a larger campaign that includes TV and radio ads.
At the same time, ICE has intensified arrests at immigration courts, including in Phoenix. Immigrant advocates have criticized the flyers as misleading and potentially unethical. Still, some immigration judges have allowed them to remain in courthouse waiting areas.
Concerns Over Threats to the Justice System
Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, a conservative and prominent legal figure, is speaking out about what he calls “almost dystopian” threats to the American justice system by members of Trump’s administration.
In a recent speech, Bolick condemned White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s threats to suspend habeas corpus and Vice President JD Vance’s mocking of “due process” on social media. He emphasized that his comments were not partisan, saying the attacks strike at the heart of judicial independence.
Bolick also addressed local challenges, including a progressive-led campaign to unseat him in 2024 over his vote to uphold Arizona’s 1864 near-total abortion ban.
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