House Passes Bill Cutting Medicaid, SNAP Benefits Amid Tax Changes

Congress is advancing a legislative package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes tax cuts along with significant reductions in social safety net programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill proposes stricter work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients, increasing eligibility conditions and reducing benefits, particularly targeting able-bodied adults without dependents and raising the age of work requirement exemptions from 54 to 64. For legal immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, the bill would reduce access to vital services such as SNAP and impose new fees on immigration-related processes, including a $1,000 fee for asylum applications, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands. The legislation also aims to restrict federal reimbursements to states providing health coverage to undocumented immigrants, lowering the federal share of costs and limiting child tax credits to individuals with Social Security numbers. While supporters argue these measures align with beliefs about work and self-sufficiency, critics warn that increased work requirements do not necessarily lead to higher employment but rather reduce insurance coverage and assistance for vulnerable populations. The package narrowly passed the House and now awaits Senate consideration, with immigration advocacy groups and left-leaning policy experts raising concerns about the harsh impacts on legal immigrants and low-income families.