AFSCME President Lee Saunders has voiced strong opposition to a federal budget recently passed by the House, which he argues will result in severe cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and public services. In a statement released after the vote, Saunders emphasized the detrimental effects these cuts would have on working families and retirees.
“The House-passed budget promises to raise prices on working families and retirees, rip lifesaving health care and food support from millions, and threaten public services nationwide – all so billionaires like Elon Musk can buy more yachts,” Saunders stated.
The proposed budget includes significant reductions in essential programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. According to Saunders, this could lead to nearly 3.5 million people losing access to food assistance, while over 13 million may lose health coverage. The impacts are expected to be widespread, affecting hospitals, nursing homes, veterans’ homes, clinics, and public schools.
Saunders warned that these cuts would weaken local economies due to layoffs across healthcare, education, and other sectors. “The economic fallout from their greed will be widespread,” he said. He further noted that new requirements for Medicaid combined with reduced funding for food assistance would exacerbate unemployment issues.
Despite the House’s decision, Saunders assured that efforts are ongoing to prevent the budget from becoming law. “But this budget is not yet law, and this fight is not yet over,” he declared. He called on members of the Senate to consider the implications of their decisions on constituents’ health and livelihoods.
“AFSCME members across the country are watching,” Saunders concluded. “Billionaire donors may have the money, but we have people power — and we’re not afraid to use it.”
