Trump Bill Affects 20 Million, Cuts SNAP and Healthcare Funds
The proposed cuts to SNAP and healthcare funds would disproportionately affect low-income families, vulnerable populations, and those struggling to afford food and healthcare. The bill's provisions would lead to increased food insecurity, reduced access to healthcare, and higher out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans.
The Trump administration's proposed tax and spending megabill would cut approximately $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over 10 years, affecting 40 million recipients, including vulnerable populations, and also reduce funding for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces by $1 trillion over a decade.
The bill would shift 5% of SNAP costs to states starting in 2028, tighten eligibility, and raise the work requirement age from 54 to 64. This move has been met with opposition from Democratic governors from 23 states, who have urged Congress to reject the SNAP cuts, warning that they would "gut" the program and force states to find millions of dollars to backfill federal cuts or cut off families from essential food assistance.
Nonprofit leaders, including the Food Research & Action Center and City Harvest, have also expressed concerns over the SNAP cuts, arguing that they would have a devastating effect on people struggling to afford food. The cuts could also impact child nutrition programs, such as school meals and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, which provide funding for families to pay for their children's lunches during the summer months.
The bill's provisions would impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, potentially cutting off coverage for millions of people who don't meet new employment or reporting standards. It would also reduce funding for Medicaid and ACA marketplaces, leading to fewer health services, medical professionals, and hospitals in rural communities. Roughly 11.8 million adults and children risk losing health insurance if the Republican domestic policy package becomes law.
The passage of the bill could have far-reaching consequences, including harming the finances of hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers, and forcing them to reduce services and employees. It could also leave an older, sicker, and costlier population of marketplace enrollees, further pushing up premiums.