Change the Chamber Condemns the Big Billionaires’ Bill

By Camille Rohde and Evey Mengelkoch, July 4 , 2025

Change the Chamber strongly opposes the newly signed budget reconciliation bill, calling it a dangerous move that puts corporate interests ahead of public well-being. As young leaders, we warn of its devastating impact on our communities, economy, and climate.

“Change the Chamber denounces the passage of the budget reconciliation bill by Congress on July 3rd and signed into law by President Trump on July 4th, 2025. This gargantuan piece of legislation is anything but beautiful. The bill makes egregious, widespread cuts to federal programs that keep the water, air, and land safe for all Americans. This bill is hugely unpopular among American citizens, with a recent Fox News poll revealing only 38 percent of voters favor the bill while 59 percent oppose its passage. Change the Chamber also vehemently objects to the sunsetting of the tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act, which states are counting on to bolster manufacturing, create jobs, and scale up clean energy projects in their communities. These broadly unpopular rollbacks will pull the rug out from under districts across the country by decimating local economies, driving up utility rates, and destabilizing our national grid.

Make no mistake–this bill puts polluters first, giving them unnecessary handouts and unprecedented fast-tracking of fossil fuel projects. This is accomplished by slashing funds for programs that protect and support everyday Americans, while driving up the federal deficit to an astronomical amount. The deep cuts to crucial environmental programs and regulations within this bill will leave our youth, elderly, and impoverished communities exposed to unregulated pollution, undoubtedly leading to years of long-lasting damage. Coupled with the gutting of necessary social programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), this will result in surging cases of respiratory disease, cancer, and exposure of at-risk populations to extreme weather. Change the Chamber condemns the widespread cuts to these vital programs and numerous other initiatives that protect our most vulnerable populations. Using a sledgehammer instead of a scalpel to cut public spending only harms those who rely on these funds to better their communities. These programs help safeguard public health for communities across the country that are bearing the brunt of climate change, which is already placing undue strain on our medical centers, electric grid, and access to food. 

Due to the cuts in this reconciliation package, hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector across the country are now at risk. As a coalition of young adults, many of us are looking for livable jobs as we plan for a just and fulfilling future. When we cannot predict the actions our legislators will take, especially when  some of those actions are directly opposed to a healthy future, it places our ambitions in jeopardy. We are the up-and-coming generation of leaders, workers, investors, and consumers in our society, and we need our government to invest in a sustainable future so that we can flourish. Driving up the federal deficit and causing millions to lose their health insurance will leave our country steeped in debt, striking a major blow to countless youth at the beginning of their careers. At a time when so many are already experiencing economic turmoil, this bill places uncertainty and strain on American families.

We cannot hope for a better future if the very legislators we elect insist on tearing down the investments that will create a more sustainable tomorrow. Change the Chamber stands resolute in our views: these aims are sensible, and we will continue to fight alongside our allies for a more sustainable, equitable, and just future for all.”

Camille Rohde and Evey Mengelkoch, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber

Change The Chamber is a nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups across the country, environmental justice and frontline community groups, and other allied organizations.