A fast-tracked budget bill would gut healthcare and food aid for millions—putting mothers, children and seniors in immediate danger.
A sweeping budget bill moving quickly through the House threatens to make draconian cuts to Medicaid and SNAP—two of the nation’s most vital programs for women and children.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has set May 26 as the deadline to pass the budget reconciliation bill, a measure being advanced under rules that prevent a Senate filibuster and allow passage without bipartisan support. The bill is being framed as “all or nothing” legislation by Republican leadership—a vehicle designed to pass the entire Trump agenda without needing Democratic votes.
Behind closed doors, the proposed budget includes major reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs, changes that would disproportionately impact women, children, seniors and low-income families.
The changes are being presented by proponents as necessary for fiscal responsibility. But policy experts and advocates warn that the real consequences would be severe: Millions could lose access to healthcare, and many families could face increased food insecurity.
And their goal is tax cuts: $2 trillion for the super-wealthy and corporations. In exchange, they will rip the roof off the house and let the rain pour in on the rest of us: slashing funds for older women—our mothers, grandmothers and aunts who are in nursing homes; children at the kitchen table, waiting for dinner or for their school lunch; women’s bodies—pregnant, aging, ailing—needing medical care.
Here is what they won’t say out loud.
What’s at Risk: Medicaid
Medicaid is not a luxury—it’s the backbone of healthcare for nearly 87 million Americans, especially women and children.
- Pregnant women: Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the U.S. It provides prenatal care, delivery and postpartum support. Without it, maternal health outcomes could worsen.
- Children: Over 40 million children rely on Medicaid for vaccines, asthma treatment, dental care and more.
- Women: Preventive care such as mammograms and cancer screenings are covered. For many women working part-time and temporary jobs that don’t come with health insurance, Medicaid is their only coverage.
- Older women: Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents rely on Medicaid; most are women. Without it, care would become unaffordable, with costs ranging from $3,000 to $8,200 per month, depending on the state.
What’s at Risk: SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to more than 42 million people, primarily women and their children—funding school breakfasts and lunches, groceries and emergency food aid.
Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid don’t just impact healthcare and grocery budgets—they also jeopardize access to school meals for millions of children. Under federal rules, students are automatically eligible for free school meals if their households receive SNAP benefits. Additionally, most states use Medicaid enrollment data and income information to directly certify children for free or reduced-price meals. When families lose access to these programs, their children risk going hungry at school.
And hunger has real consequences: Research consistently links food insecurity to lower academic performance, especially in math, as well as higher rates of grade repetition. Beyond academics, chronic undernutrition can cause developmental delays, compromise the immune system, and increase vulnerability to long-term health conditions.
Proposed changes would impose new work requirements and funding cuts that could reduce or eliminate assistance for many families.
What’s at Risk: WIC
Proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP pose serious threats to families’ access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Because WIC uses adjunctive eligibility—automatically qualifying participants who are enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP or TANF—any disruption to these programs can create significant barriers. If families lose access to Medicaid or SNAP, they must go through a more burdensome application process for WIC, including submitting separate income verification, which can deter participation and delay critical nutrition support.
One proposal under consideration would eliminate Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) for SNAP, a move that could strip more than 3 million people of SNAP benefits. Among them are hundreds of thousands of children who would also lose their automatic eligibility for WIC. USDA estimates that at least 359,600 infants and young children would be directly affected by this policy change. The stakes are even higher considering that nearly 80 percent of WIC participants also rely on Medicaid—not just for healthcare, but as a streamlined entry point to receive WIC benefits.
What Ms. Readers Can Do
People across the country are being urged to contact their U.S. representatives immediately—Republicans and Democrats alike. The bill is moving fast, and advocates say this is a critical window to influence the outcome before the House vote.
How to Call Your Representative
- Visit house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
- Enter your ZIP code.
- Click the email icon under your representative’s photo.
- Locate the local office phone number.
- Call today.
Time is short. With a May 26 House deadline, every day counts.
Women, children, seniors and working families across the country depend on these programs to survive and thrive. Constituents have the power to help stop these cuts by raising their voices—starting now.
After it passes the House, the budget bill will move to the Senate. We’ll be reporting on its details to keep you informed.
