National Coalition Launches #EmptyPlatesProtest Fast to Demand Senators Reject Budget Cuts to Basic Needs - Families USA Skip to Main Content
06.23.2025 / Press Release

National Coalition Launches #EmptyPlatesProtest Fast to Demand Senators Reject Budget Cuts to Basic Needs

Prominent Health, Faith, and Anti-Hunger Organizations Unite in Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Senate reconvenes this week with the intent of passing a budget reconciliation package, a broad coalition of health, faith-based, and anti-hunger organizations today announced the launch the #EmptyPlatesProtest, a national relay fast designed to draw moral urgency and opposition to the devastating cuts to healthcare, food assistance, and other basic needs in the budget reconciliation bill. The campaign, hosted at protestfast.org, brings together hundreds of community leaders and prominent advocacy groups in a coordinated fast to send a clear signal to Senators and the nation about the severity of the budget bill before them. The protestors, which include prominent organization and community leaders and grassroots everyday Americans, are seeking to show solidarity with the 7 million more Americans who will go hungry and the 16 million who will lose health coverage if this bill becomes law.

Starting June 23rd, 2025, a growing movement of concerned citizens, advocates, and leaders will go hungry to demand that Senators reject these severe cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other basic needs. During each day of this relay fast, a cohort of protestors will fast for 24 hours – sacrificing three meals and going to bed hungry – before being relieved the next day by another cohort of participants, who then continue the fast. Those who can’t fast for 24 hours can sacrifice one or two meals in solidarity. The relay fast will continue until Congress goes on recess for July 4th.

Researchers estimate that 51,000 Americans will die each year due to these cuts. Each meal sacrificed during the #EmptyPlatesProtest represents Americans who will either lose their life or go hungry, lose healthcare, and pay more for basic needs if these cuts are passed by the House and Senate.

Coalition Partners and Endorsing Organizations

The #EmptyPlatesProtest has garnered support from a diverse and growing number of health, faith-based, and anti-hunger organizations, including:

  • Families USA
  • HealthBegins
  • Coalition on Human Needs
  • Faith in Action
  • NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
  • Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
  • Children’s Health Watch
  • Communities Rise Together

Voices from Coalition Leaders

Dr. Rishi Manchanda, CEO, HealthBegins, “The House budget reconciliation bill, along with draft text from various Senate committees, will cut the heart out of basic needs services. These cuts don’t eliminate waste — they create bigger problems down the road for everyone, leading to higher costs, more suffering, and more strain on American taxpayers. For working families, that means less food on people’s plates, less money in their pockets, and less access to healthcare. All just to pay for tax breaks that will make the wealthiest even richer. That’s why a large majority of Americans from all backgrounds oppose this bill, especially when they hear the facts about its impact on health care coverage, food assistance, and basic needs. Each meal we sacrifice in this fast – each empty plate – is a moral protest representing the majority of people of faith and good conscience who are sending a clear message to Senators – Do not vote for these cuts.”

Anthony Wright, Executive Director, Families USA: “We fast in solidarity with millions who will go hungry and the millions more who will lose their health coverage under this big bad budget bill. While we can’t pretend to feel the full impacts of hunger and of lack of coverage– including living sicker, dying younger, and being one emergency from financial ruin–we can fast and protest to let our friends and neighbors know about the severity and the consequence of this bill and this vote. Empty plates would just be the beginning of the impacts that we all will feel, in our community, in our public health, and in our economy. With everything else going on, the Senate is seeking to sneak this big bad budget bill through this week, and this is a fast to prevent them pulling a fast one.”

Debbie Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs “Medicaid keeps rural hospitals open. SNAP supports local grocery stores and restaurants. These cuts to basic needs don’t just hurt the vulnerable – they devastate entire communities and local economies. All just so Congress can fund $1.1 trillion towards the tax breaks for the wealthy. Join the #EmptyPlatesProtest and fast with us to let Senators know that we can’t let this happen.”

Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director, Faith in Action: “Our faith calls us to stand with the hungry and advocate for justice. The #EmptyPlatesProtest is a powerful witness to our values and a call to conscience for all Americans. When we fast together, we create a sacred space for reflection and action that can transform both hearts and policies.”

Joan F. Neal, Interim Executive Director, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, “Catholic social teaching demands that we prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. The #EmptyPlatesProtest embodies our commitment to economic justice and reminds lawmakers that budget decisions are moral decisions. We cannot accept a world where children are made hungry and sick to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.”

Crystal FitzSimons, Executive Director, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) Cutting food assistance for millions of people will only deepen America’s hunger crisis, increase health care costs, and devastate local economies. SNAP supports grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and small businesses while keeping children and families healthy. If we want a strong and prosperous America, our leaders must ensure that everyone has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.”

How to Participate

Americans across the country are invited to join the #EmptyPlatesProtest through several ways:

  • Join the Fast: Sign up at https://protestfast.org/ to participate in scheduled fasting periods
  • Share Your Story: Use social media hashtags #EmptyPlatesProtest and #TheFastingFurious #HungryForJustice to share experiences and build awareness
  • Contact Senators: Use the tools at https://protestfast.org/ to contact Senators
  • Attend Our Events: Join our press briefing to hear what’s at stake, and participate in our advocacy webinar where we’ll provide practical tools, messaging, and strategies to help you make a difference. Together, we can mobilize action and protect vital programs.
  • Invite others to join

About the #EmptyPlatesProtest

How will fasting help?

One day of fasting cannot compare to what many families endure — going hungry every day and living under the constant stress of meeting basic needs. This fast is a symbol, meant to send a clear signal to your friends, family, and community about the severity of the Big Bad Budget Bill. It is a way to show solidarity with the 7 million more Americans who will go hungry and the 16 million who will lose health coverage if this bill becomes law.
But fasting is most powerful when paired with action. While you fast, help spread the word — to both Senators and the public:

  • Pledge to call and write your U.S. Senator.
  • Post on social media, ideally with a photo of an empty plate, using the hashtags #EmptyPlatesProtest and #TheFastingFurious, along with your reasons for opposing the bill.
  • Urge your friends and family, especially those in key states, to do the same.

Why this week?

The Senate is beginning debate on the Big Bad Budget Bill this week, with the goal of passing it as early as June 27. We are building a groundswell of visible, moral protest to create public support and a “surround sound” environment—one that gives Senators who have expressed concern about the healthcare and food assistance cuts the courage to stand their ground and refuse to go along.

We intend to keep the #EmptyPlatesProtest going until Congress breaks for the July 4th recess.

Media Availability

Coalition leaders will be available for interviews throughout the campaign. Additional resources are available at https://protestfast.org/

Social Media

Follow the campaign on social media for real-time updates: