US Medicaid Cuts Threaten Coverage for Millions Across Multiple States

The Trump administration's recent healthcare policy changes have led to significant federal cuts to Medicaid and other health programs, threatening coverage for millions of Americans. The "One Big, Beautiful Bill" Act enacts nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, potentially causing up to 15 million people to lose coverage, with states like California, New York, and New Mexico among the hardest hit. The House Appropriations Committee has also advanced a bill cutting the Department of Health and Human Services budget by nearly $7 billion, including deep reductions to the CDC and elimination of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, further straining public health infrastructure. Simultaneously, failure by the Republican-led Congress to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits could result in double-digit premium increases for middle- and low-income Americans, undermining the gains made under the Biden administration. These combined actions are forcing states to confront severe budget challenges, potentially resulting in reductions to critical health services and coverage, and sparking political debate over the consequences of the GOP's health spending cuts. The evolving situation is set against a backdrop of political uncertainty, with both Democrats and Republicans preparing to frame the impacts of these policies in upcoming electoral contexts.