Cuts to social safety net
Destroying our last-resort protections
Cuts to healthcare, food assistance, and prevention weaken the foundations of safety. Freezing or slashing these investments doesn’t reduce harm—it destabilizes communities and shifts resources away from what actually works.
The facts are clear
Cuts to vital programs increase crime and gut public health
Budget cuts and funding freezes target the very programs that prevent harm—healthcare, housing, food assistance, and community safety—while leaving punitive systems untouched or expanded. The result is less support, more instability, and greater risk for everyone.
01
16.6% crime increase
Research indicates that large-scale Medicaid disenrollment resulted in a 16.6% increase in crime rates. Despite this evidence, $1 trillion has been cut from Medicaid, jeopardizing coverage for approximately 30% of young adults aged 18 to 24. Medicaid represents not only healthcare policy but also a public safety investment.
02
Housing and nutrition cuts
In 2025, federal legislation cut $187 billion from SNAP and reduced funding for programs addressing homelessness. Nutrition assistance and stable housing are among the strongest predictors of community stability. When these supports are weakened, insecurity rises—and so does crime.
03
15 million losing coverage
An estimated 15 million individuals are projected to lose healthcare coverage under new federal legislation. Additionally, millions more are expected to encounter higher costs and diminished access to care. Loss of healthcare coverage contributes to increased financial strain and instability, both of which are closely associated with elevated crime rates.
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Learn how cuts to our social safety net make us less safe
Download our one-page explainer that details what the administration is doing, it’s impact, and the ways to get involved.
What we know
These cuts are cruel & dangerous
Programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance are designed to support catch people before crisis turns into catastrophe. Slashing these lifelines pushes families deeper into instability and increases the conditions that lead to harm.
// Tax priorities
$1 trillion for the wealthy
The legislation that reduced Medicaid funding by $1 trillion simultaneously provided $1 trillion in tax breaks to the top 1%. This shift in priorities favors concentrated wealth over healthcare access. Consequently, public health funding decreased while tax benefits for the wealthiest were maintained.
// Coverage loss
3 in 10 young adults could lose coverage
As a result of Medicaid cuts, roughly 3 in 10 young adults are at risk of losing their healthcare coverage. For many, that means losing access to preventive care, mental health treatment, and prescription medications. Coverage gaps increase financial strain and health risks at a critical stage of life.
// Early childhood impact
$12 billion withheld from childhood investments
The Administration illegally withheld $12 billion from Head Start, a program with decades of proven success supporting children and families. Research shows participation can reduce later involvement in crime by nearly 49%. Undermining early childhood investment weakens long-term community stability.
// Treatment funding
$2 billion in treatment care targeted
The Department of Health and Human Services attempted to cut $2 billion from mental health and substance use treatment programs before public outcry forced a reversal. These services reduce emergency room visits, incarceration, and overdose deaths. Threatening their funding destabilizes communities already facing behavioral health crises.
More from the New York Times →
// Repeated violations
Three illegal withholdings
Head Start funds were illegally withheld three separate times. Repeated interference disrupted services for families who rely on early education, childcare, and developmental support. Instability in essential programs undermines trust and weakens the safety net families depend on.
Latest resources & news
Stories nationwide on the harm caused by these cuts.
Everywhere you look, social safety net programs that families depend on are being hacked away, while the Administration funnels billions to the wealthy elite
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