Republicans on the House Budget Committee have passed a budget resolution which includes a minimum of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, and are currently pushing to have it go through the Senate. The budget resolution instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to cut at least $880 billion over the next 10 years. The committee — which operates under the Department of Agriculture and is responsible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other major food programs — is expected to cut at least $230 billion. These cuts are part of a larger effort to finance the trillions in tax cuts promised by President Donald Trump, but will come at the expense of millions of Americans who rely on these safety-net programs to survive.
SNAP is one of the most effective programs when it comes to combating hunger and reducing poverty. Prior to the pandemic, SNAP prevented nearly 8 million people — of which 3.6 million were children — from falling below poverty levels. SNAP is a crucial resource for many New Yorkers struggling with the high cost of food. In the past 12 months, 53% of New Yorkers have taken on debt in order to buy food. In addition, 52% of New Yorkers have reported that food insecurity has had a negative impact on their physical health, with 63% of New Yorkers reporting that food-related financial stress negatively impacts their mental well-being.
When asked what they would do with an extra $80 in their food budget, roughly 46% of participants said they would spend more on protein-enriched foods like meat, fish and eggs, while 44% would spend more on fruits and vegetables. 74% said that if they had higher food assistance benefits they would shop at local grocery stores, which would help small businesses and families alike.
Yet, the proposed reduction to SNAP benefits would restrict eligibility for millions of low-income families, potentially worsening food insecurity. It would also eliminate the 2021 update to the Thrifty Food Plan, which increased SNAP benefits based on inflation and updates to nutritional guidance. Without the Thrifty Food Plan, a moderately priced meal in New York would cost 77% more than what SNAP benefits can cover.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture is looking to cut over $1 billion in funding for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. Both programs play an integral role in providing food and farming support: The LFS program, which allows schools to buy fresh, locally sourced food for student meals will be losing access to $660 million in funds, while the LFPA will no longer provide $500 million in funding this year to food banks to ensure low-income families had access to fresh, high-quality ingredients. These cuts jeopardize those struggling with food insecurity in over 40 states, including millions of students and low-income families in New York. The USDA claims that these programs “no longer effectuate the goals of the agency.” But what could be more aligned with the USDA’s mission than feeding children and supporting local farmers? By terminating these programs, the USDA is forcing schools and food banks to stretch their already limited resources to the detriment of poor and hungry people.
Medicaid, another major social welfare program which provides health care to over 4 million New Yorkers, is also under threat. The proposed $2.3 trillion cut in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade would be devastating for hospitals, health care providers and patients. As more than 56% of Medicaid financing in New York City comes from the federal government, federal reductions in funding will result in higher eligibility standards, reduced covered services and increased out-of-pocket cost.
Cutting Medicaid will result in many long-term consequences. Rates of chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease would rise, resulting in higher hospitalization rates and preventable deaths. The city’s mental health crisis could also worsen, as Medicaid funds most of the mental health care that is received by low-income and homeless people. Reducing these services could lead to increased homelessness and incarceration rates in New York City, as well as endanger the millions of health care jobs that are supported by Medicaid.
Budget cuts to these social programs are a serious threat to millions of Americans who depend on them. While Trump’s proposed tax cuts would see minor boosts to income and reductions in taxes for many citizens, the cuts overwhelmingly favor the top 10% of Americans. This means that while low and middle-income households may see marginal improvement from the tax cuts, it comes at the expense of social programs which provide much needed support for the same households. The only thing low-income families are gaining under this budget is a reduced version of what the rich will get in tax cuts, and what they’re losing is a much more significant social safety net. Passing this budget will destroy social programs that millions of Americans rely on to survive. Everyday people must demand that Congress find a more balanced approach, one that isn’t designed to benefit the rich and look good on paper for the poor.
WSN’s Opinion section strives to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented in the Opinion section are solely the views of the writer.
Contact Steven Wang at [email protected].
