List of Policies Removed from the 2025 Republican Megabill

As Republicans push forward with their sprawling legislative package — dubbed the “America First Megabill” — a number of controversial and high-profile proposals have quietly fallen by the wayside. Designed as a sweeping showcase of the GOP’s policy vision, the bill has been trimmed, revised, and reworked behind closed doors to secure enough votes and avoid a legislative logjam.

Here’s a running list of notable policies that have been stripped out, rejected, or sidelined during negotiations on Capitol Hill.

❌ Nationwide Abortion Ban

One of the most politically charged proposals — a 15-week national abortion ban — was excluded after moderate Republicans and key swing-state senators warned it could alienate suburban voters ahead of the 2026 midterms. Instead, the final draft defers abortion regulations to the states, signaling a shift in strategy amid growing public resistance to federal restrictions.

❌ Social Security and Medicare Cuts

Provisions that would have raised the retirement age and cut long-term Social Security benefits were pulled following backlash from both Democrats and older Republican voters. Party leaders feared that endorsing entitlement reform during an election year would be “political suicide,” according to one Senate aide.

❌ Ban on Gender-Affirming Care Nationwide

A proposed federal ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors — modeled after legislation in states like Florida and Texas — was cut from the bill to avoid court challenges and unify the caucus. While still widely supported by the party’s conservative wing, the measure faced strong opposition from civil rights groups and centrist lawmakers.

❌ Automatic E-Verify for All U.S. Employers

The Megabill initially included a provision mandating nationwide use of E-Verify, the federal system used to confirm employee immigration status. But after pushback from the agriculture and construction industries — sectors that rely heavily on undocumented labor — the measure was quietly removed.

❌ School Vouchers for All

While many GOP lawmakers support universal school voucher programs, the proposed nationwide initiative didn’t make the final draft due to concerns over federal overreach and the cost to public education systems in rural communities.

❌ Federal Ban on Drag Performances in Public Spaces

Another hot-button issue — a proposal to ban drag performances in federally funded venues or near schools — failed to make the cut after legal analysts warned it would face immediate First Amendment challenges. The language was reportedly “too vague” to pass constitutional muster, according to aides.

❌ Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Again)

Despite repeated campaign promises, the latest effort to fully repeal the ACA (Obamacare) was left out of the Megabill after internal polling showed the move could alienate voters who now depend on its coverage provisions, especially in GOP-controlled states with high enrollment.

❌ Cryptocurrency Deregulation Package

An ambitious effort to dramatically deregulate the crypto industry — including exempting certain tokens from SEC oversight — failed to gain traction after recent market volatility and bipartisan concerns over fraud and consumer risk.

❌ Restrictions on Mail-In Voting

Language to restrict mail-in voting and impose new ID requirements nationwide was stripped out after legal experts warned it would clash with state-run election systems and face immediate litigation. The provision had been championed by Trump-aligned lawmakers but was ultimately dropped to avoid a voting rights showdown.

🗳️ What's Still In the Megabill?

While many of the more extreme or divisive ideas have been axed, the Megabill still includes:

• Major tax cuts for corporations and high earners
• Expanded fossil fuel development on federal lands
• Rollbacks of environmental regulations
• Funding for border wall construction and increased ICE operations
• Limits on DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs in federal agencies

🏛️ The Bigger Picture

The GOP’s Megabill remains a symbol of Republican legislative ambition — but its evolution shows how party leaders are walking a tightrope between energizing the conservative base and maintaining national electability. With Senate votes expected later this summer, more changes may still come.

As one congressional staffer put it:

“This bill is part policy, part messaging — and 100% about 2026.”

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