Leading Organizations Focused on Hunger and Health Warn: Unprecedented SNAP and Medicaid Cuts Would Devastate Millions of Americans - Families USA Skip to Main Content
05.12.2025 / Statement

Leading Organizations Focused on Hunger and Health Warn: Unprecedented SNAP and Medicaid Cuts Would Devastate Millions of Americans

SNAP helps more than 42 million Americans put food on the table and Medicaid provides health care coverage to more than 20% of Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the nation’s leading voices on hunger and health are coming together to issue a dire warning to Congress, urging them to stop their plans to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid that would threaten the health and economic security of millions of Americans.

Families USA, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), First Focus Campaign for Children, Hunger Free America, National Rural Health Association, Alliance to End Hunger, Community Catalyst, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and Children’s HealthWatch are joining together to send a clear message to Congress ahead of the House Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Commerce markups that are expected to move ahead this week. The proposed cuts to both SNAP and Medicaid are an unprecedented drop in federal funding that would cut off support for millions of income-eligible working adults, children, seniors, and people with disabilities:

“Deep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would be a devastating one-two punch for working families, resulting in significant health care coverage losses, forcing rural hospitals to close or scale back services, and throwing state budgets into crisis, all while making it more difficult for families to put food on the table. The same members who ran for office promised lower costs and cheaper groceries for everyone are now overseeing the shredding of our nation’s social safety net, with no plans to support working families or actually lower costs for people. We should all be asking every member of Congress who is considering this budget why they are willing to harm working families in their own district just to pay for a tax break for billionaires.” — Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA

“Cutting SNAP and Medicaid would deepen hunger and hardship for millions of Americans, especially for children, older adults, and rural households. These programs are critical to fighting poverty and hunger in America, improving health, and strengthening communities. Lawmakers should strengthen them, not weaken them. We urge Congress to reject these harmful proposals and protect the programs that help build a healthier and stronger America. ” — Crystal FitzSimons, Interim President, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)

“Cutting Medicaid and SNAP is nothing short of an attack on children. These cuts would strip millions of kids of essential healthcare and nutrition, forcing impossible choices between food and medicine for families already struggling. Hungry children can’t learn, sick children can’t thrive, and children without support can’t reach their potential. The consequences extend far beyond empty stomachs and untreated illnesses – they diminish academic achievement, worsen health outcomes, and perpetuate poverty. Congress must reject these harmful cuts and instead strengthen the programs that give our children a fighting chance at a healthy future.” — Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children

“It would be both morally problematic and economically reckless to slash funding for health care and/or nutrition assistance to pay for more tax cuts for the wealthy. Cutting SNAP would harm farmers, and would likely force food processors, trucking companies, and food wholesalers and retailers to lay off employees. Cutting immediate health care spending would greatly increase long term health care spending. We adamantly oppose these proposals, which would both harm the most vulnerable Americans and damage the overall U.S. economy.” — Joel Berg, CEO, Hunger Free America

“Proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would have outsized impacts on rural communities, where these programs are vital to ensuring access to care and basic needs. Medicaid alone provides health coverage for nearly one in five rural adults and over half of children in some states. Cuts of this magnitude would weaken the support systems that help rural residents stay healthy, access care locally, and manage everyday costs. Many rural hospitals already operate on thin margins, and further reductions to Medicaid funding would risk essential service reductions, closures, and job losses, undermining local economies and jeopardizing care for millions. The National Rural Health Association strongly urges Congress to protect and strengthen these critical programs that keep rural America healthy and resilient.” — Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Association

“SNAP and Medicaid programs not only provide individuals and families with a crucial lifeline to help make ends meet – they strengthen our communities and build a healthier future for the next generation. Cuts to these vital programs are unacceptable and we urge Congress to prioritize the needs of their most vulnerable constituents.” — Eric P. Mitchell, President, Alliance to End Hunger

Everyone deserves to live in a country where we can be healthy, feed our families, and care for our loved ones with dignity. But at a time when people are already forced to choose between putting food on the table or going into medical debt, massive and rushed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will only make things worse. These programs are how we stand up for one another — keeping rural clinics open, reducing poverty, and helping families stay afloat. If lawmakers are serious about lowering costs, they should start by reining in the corporate profiteering driving up health care and food prices — not taking support away from those already struggling. Health and economic justice go hand in hand — and a future where everyone has what they need to thrive is not only necessary, but also possible.” — Mona Shah, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, Community Catalyst

“Slashing federal food assistance programs like SNAP at a time when more and more Americans need help putting food on the table is un-American and morally reprehensible,” said Abby J. Leibman, President & CEO of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. “Rather than embrace the importance of SNAP and other basic needs supports, our elected officials are willing to allow millions to fall into poverty, hunger, and sickness — all so that they can appease and enrich the wealthiest Americans and businesses. It is the moral and ethical obligation of the government to ensure the wellbeing of its people — all its people. Imposing deep cuts on basic needs programs would be a cruel and unwise abdication of this fundamental responsibility. This is the moment, right now, for Congressional leaders to rediscover reason, choose to support those facing hunger and poverty, and make their constituents’ wellbeing their top priority.”

“SNAP and Medicaid are critical investments in our children’s health and well-being,” said Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Executive Director of Children’s HealthWatch. “Our research consistently shows that these programs help stabilize families and support access to the medical care and nutrition they need to thrive. Cuts or restrictions would be devastating to child health and development and have consequences that extend far beyond childhood.”