House Passes Largest Medicaid, SNAP Cuts to Fund Billionaire Tax Breaks

President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress passed a major tax and spending reconciliation bill that includes over $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other social welfare programs, raising concerns about millions of Americans losing health insurance and access to care. Hospital leaders warn these Medicaid cuts could lead to closures nationwide, particularly affecting pediatric hospitals where many patients rely on Medicaid. The legislation also extends Trump-era tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, increasing the federal deficit by an estimated $3.3 to $4.5 trillion over the next decade. Despite opposition from Democrats and some moderate Republicans, the bill narrowly passed in both the House and Senate, with Vice President JD Vance casting tie-breaking votes in the Senate. Critics, including Democrats and organizations like Americans for Tax Fairness, denounce the bill as a massive transfer of wealth from working-class Americans to the wealthy, with harmful effects on healthcare coverage and food assistance programs. The International Monetary Fund also criticized the bill for worsening the U.S. fiscal deficit contrary to its recommendations.