Senator Elizabeth Warren just dropped a bombshell analysis that puts Big Tech's tax windfall in stark perspective. Her office found that Google's $17.9 billion tax break under Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" could have funded SNAP benefits for 7.5 million Americans for an entire year. The numbers paint a picture of massive corporate savings while social programs face deep cuts.
The numbers are staggering, and they're landing right as the government shutdown drags on. Google's parent company Alphabet is pocketing $17.9 billion in tax savings this year under Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" - enough to feed 7.5 million Americans through SNAP for 12 months. That same amount could cover Medicaid for 2.3 million adults or 5.4 million children.
Amazon isn't far behind with its $15.7 billion tax break, which Warren's office calculates could provide SNAP benefits for 6.6 million Americans or Medicaid coverage for 2 million adults. Even Microsoft's projected $12.5 billion tax cut for 2026 dwarfs what the government is spending on actual aid - that money could slash ACA premiums for nearly 2 million people.
The timing couldn't be more brutal. While these tech giants are banking billions, the federal government spent $99.8 billion last year to fund SNAP benefits for an average of 41.7 million people monthly. Now, with the government partially shut down, Trump announced he'll only provide $4.65 billion for SNAP - a fraction of what any single tech company is saving.
"Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are knocking millions of Americans off their health insurance and ripping away food assistance from families - all so they can fund giant tax cuts for billionaires and giant corporations," Warren told The Verge. "This is a matter of priorities: Trump and Republicans are fighting for their billionaire buddies, while Democrats are fighting for American families."
The Republican-controlled Congress passed the massive budget bill in July, delivering what amounts to a corporate Christmas gift wrapped in policy. Beyond maintaining lower corporate tax rates, the legislation implements a more generous research and development write-off system. It's a double win for Big Tech - they keep more money while the government makes it easier to deduct their massive R&D spending.
But there's a cruel irony here. The same bill that's showering tech companies with tax breaks is simultaneously introducing sweeping cuts and new eligibility requirements for federal programs like the ACA, Medicaid, and SNAP. Warren's analysis includes a chart that makes the trade-offs crystal clear - each tech giant's tax savings could fund entire social programs that are now facing the chopping block.
