Booker, Jeffries Protest Trump’s $1.5T Budget Cuts

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Cory Booker led a livestreamed sit-in protest on the Capitol steps Sunday, opposing President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, which seeks to cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending. The lawmakers argue the plan would slash funding for Medicaid, food assistance, childcare, health research, education, housing, and other essential programs, while expanding tax breaks for the wealthy. Democrats warn these cuts would disproportionately harm seniors, children, low-income families, and the disabled. Booker and Jeffries called the budget a 'moral threat,' urging Americans to share their stories and emphasizing that budgets reflect national values. Joined by other lawmakers and advocates, they highlighted the unprecedented scale of the cuts and the need for creative resistance. The protest comes as Congress returns from recess to consider the fiscal plan, with Democrats vowing to fight the changes.