AMERIKA

'Really concerned': Millions of women warned they'll bear brunt of govt program cuts

Sarah K. Burris
December 13, 2024 3:26PM ET
RAW STORY

African-American woman with 11-day-old baby (Shutterstock)

Advisers of President-elect Donald Trump are pushing to cut the U.S. budget by one-third — and women's groups are bracing for much of that cash to come from services they depend on.

“With this new administration that is coming in … I really am concerned about the lives of women. We are seeing so many policies, so many budget cuts,” said Christian Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women, in an interview with The Guardian.

Also Read: Republicans push to gut food aid program that helps feed half of all infants in U.S.

Republicans now seek cuts to "Medicaid, the joint state/federal health insurance program for people with lower incomes; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a cash-allowance program that replaced welfare; and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), widely known as food stamps," the report said.

Conservatives say these cuts are necessary to reduce the deficit, make government more efficient, and even restore freedom. Advocates and experts warn that cutting these programs will "throw more people — especially women and children — further into poverty."

The report cites that Medicaid accounts for more than 40% of births in the U.S. It also pays for new mothers who have post-pregnancy-related care for 60 days. For seniors, Medicaid pays for 60% of all nursing home medical care. The report noted that more than 70% of those in nursing homes are women.

The Guardian turned to The Heritage Foundation's "Project 2025," a blueprint for the new Trump administration. Their economic agenda promises to improve "marriage and 'family values.'"

“Marriage, healthy family formation, and delaying sex to prevent pregnancy are virtually ignored in terms of priorities, yet these goals can reverse the cycle of poverty in meaningful ways,” claims the section on proposed changes to TANF and Snap.

The Republican Study Committee claims there should be more work requirements for TANF and Snap. However, considerable research proves that demanding more work requirements "does anything other than force people off benefits without helping them find employment."