Congress Returns from Spring Recess to Draft Sweeping Budget Resolution Slashing Funding for Medicaid and Food Assistance

Members of Congress return to their offices on Capitol Hill today after a two-week spring recess. Republican lawmakers will immediately turn their attention to drafting the legislative text of a massive budget reconciliation bill that would spend over $5 trillion to extend tax cuts, increase funding for immigration enforcement, and fund other Trump Administration priorities, while also cutting at least $1.5 trillion in the federal budget through funding cuts to other federal programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).    

Before leaving for recess, Republicans in the House and Senate voted to pass a budget resolution (see Memo, 4/14). The budget resolution provides the blueprint for the reconciliation bill, outlining how much money each congressional committee is responsible for spending or cutting. “Reconciliation” refers to a special procedure that allows a bill to pass the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the 60 votes usually required in the chamber, in exchange for limitations on what can be included in the bill. Because Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, they can use reconciliation to pass a bill without any bipartisan support or input.  

While housing assistance has not been named as a potential target for cuts, the anti-poverty programs being considered play a crucial role in economic stability for people and families with low incomes, helping them put food on the table and receive needed medical care. The financial assistance these programs provide also promotes housing stability: by helping families afford the cost of food and other necessities, more money is left over at the end of the month to ensure rent is paid. States can also use Medicaid to cover health-related social needs, including housing.  

The threats to Medicaid, which serves over 72 million low-income people around the country, and SNAP, which serves over 42 million people, have triggered widespread outcry from advocates around the country. Public opposition to the proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP is pressuring moderate and swing-district Republicans to express concerns about the bill to leadership; as negotiations continue, it will be crucial for advocates – especially those in Republican districts and states – to keep up the pressure on their members of Congress to vote against any reconciliation bill that would cut vital safety net programs.  

The National Alliance to End Homelessness launched a Take Action page for advocates to quickly and easily contact their elected officials and urge them not to support cuts to Medicaid. Take action here: tinyurl.com/3c2ntnnw. 

Learn more about how you can advocate for continued SNAP funding at the Food, Research, and Action Center’s (FRAC) website: tinyurl.com/2mzr5pb3.