Politics

House Pushes Trump’s Agenda at the Expense of Millions, Especially Women and Children

Just before their Memorial Day recess, the House passed President Trump’s sweeping $2 trillion tax and spending package, advancing his dangerous policy agenda and raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. The bill passed by a razor-thin margin, 215-214, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting against it. 

At the heart of the bill is a devastating rollback of essential safety net programs that millions of Americans—especially women, children, and low-income families—depend on to survive.

The bill slashes the Medicaid budget by hundreds of billions of dollars and includes new work requirements for adults to enroll in the program and more frequent eligibility checks. According to the Congressional Budget Office, more than 7 million people will lose Medicaid coverage if this version of the bill is signed into law. 

In a clear attack on reproductive healthcare, the bill bars Medicaid from funding services provided at clinics that also perform abortions, preventing millions of women across the country from accessing essential healthcare. This restriction would effectively defund many Planned Parenthood clinics and similar providers, cutting off access to cancer screenings, STI testing, contraception, and routine check-ups for millions of women, especially those in rural and underserved areas.

But Medicaid wasn’t the only program targeted. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also faces major cuts as well as new work requirements for people ages 55 to 64. Women—particularly single mothers—are among the most frequent recipients of SNAP benefits. SNAP is the most crucial anti-hunger program in the country and currently provides food assistance for 42 million Americans, acting as a lifeline for so many families. 

The bill also rescinds a series of clean energy tax credits passed in 2022, including the $7,500 credit for electric vehicles. At the same time, it fast-tracks permitting for fossil fuel projects, entrenching the country’s dependence on oil and gas while undermining the fight against climate change.

So, which policy priorities saw an increase in funding? Trump’s crackdown on immigration. The bill put $50 billion aside for a border wall, $45 billion for detention centers, $8 billion for immigration officers, and $14 billion for deportations. An additional $150 billion is directed toward defense spending.

As millions stand to lose vital social services, the fight now turns to the Senate—and to the voters who will hold lawmakers accountable in upcoming elections.

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