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-Editorial
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, crucial federal health programs are facing the threat of significant budget cuts. The new administration, seeking to reduce inflation and national debt, is likely to target Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These programs collectively serve over 85 million people across the United States, and potential reductions could have a profound impact on the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Experts will gather to discuss the potential effects of these proposed cuts and the controversial impoundment process, which allows the President to halt the funding flow to programs that Congress has already authorized.
Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, expressed concern over the future of Medicaid, a program that serves low- and moderate-income individuals. Alker noted that Medicaid had been largely absent from presidential campaign debates but has since emerged as a point of contention. “Medicaid is the program here in the United States that serves low-income people, low and moderate-income people,” Alker emphasized, highlighting the crucial role it plays in providing healthcare, especially for low-income seniors and individuals with severe disabilities. Notably, Medicaid also serves as the largest payer for long-term care, a critical service that Medicare does not cover.
Alker further stressed that Medicaid helps alleviate the financial burden on low-income seniors by covering their cost-sharing expenses, ensuring they have access to healthcare services without undue financial strain. Given the essential role Medicaid plays in America’s healthcare system, its potential cuts have drawn widespread concern.
Mayra Alvarez, President of the Children’s Partnership, also voiced her alarm over the potential impacts on children’s health. With over 72 million children in the U.S., including millions living with at least one undocumented parent, Alvarez underscored the importance of maintaining robust programs like Medicaid and Medi-Cal in California, which provide not only healthcare but also crucial services such as nutrition and economic support.
“Every child deserves a healthy life, a strong family, and a safe community,” Alvarez said, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive safety net to support the health and well-being of children across the country.
Richard Kogan, Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, brings decades of experience in public policy analysis and the intricacies of government funding. Kogan has spent much of his career studying impoundment, the legal process by which a president can withhold funds authorized by Congress. Reflecting on the historical context, Kogan pointed to the controversial actions of the Nixon administration, which led to significant legal challenges and ultimately shaped the laws governing impoundment today.
While some argue that the executive branch has the constitutional right to withhold funds, Kogan emphasized that the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 was designed to ensure that Congress retains control over appropriations. He warned that the ongoing debate over presidential impoundment powers raises serious questions about the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
“The fundamental issue at stake is the delicate balance of power between the executive and legislative branches,” he emphasizes. “When a president chooses to withhold funds, it raises significant questions about accountability and the rule of law, which should be at the forefront of any discussion on impoundment.”