GOP’s ‘Slashing Welfare’: Aiming to Cut $5 Trillion to Fund Trump’s Tax Cuts
By Jake Beardslee ·
January 11, 2025
House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are reportedly circulating a proposal to slash $5 trillion in federal spending to finance President-elect Donald Trump’s key priorities, such as tax cuts for corporations and individuals and increased border security measures. The proposed cuts, revealed in an early list obtained by Politico, target major federal programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Biden administration climate initiatives. Allison Robbert/Pool via Imagn Images
The proposal also includes cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, formerly known as food stamps. The GOP plan frames these measures under positive-sounding labels, such as “Making Medicaid Work for the Most Vulnerable,” but suggests significant changes, including Medicaid work requirements. Critics argue such measures are unnecessary and harmful. Vanity Fair writer Molly Jong-Fast described the proposal as “taking food stamps away from hungry children to pay for tax cuts for wealthy people.” United States Department of Agriculture / Wikimedia
Another controversial section labeled “Ending Cradle-to-Grave Dependence” suggests reducing TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) funding by 10%. TANF provides critical financial assistance for low-income households, helping cover essentials like food, housing, and childcare. Such cuts, according to advocacy groups, would severely impact millions of Americans already struggling with rising costs of living. Nicola Barts / Pexels
The document also outlines a $468 billion reduction in climate policy spending, with suggestions to repeal Biden-era health care rules, including one requiring minimum staffing levels at nursing homes. Critics say these proposals threaten both public health and environmental progress. Aaron Kittredge / Pexels
Salaam Bhatti, director of the Food Research and Action Center, called the proposed SNAP cuts “the most out-of-touch thing I’ve ever seen,” noting that many people voted in recent elections because they couldn’t afford basic necessities. Bhatti warned that millions could lose access to vital food assistance programs. Food Research and Action Center
The proposed Medicaid work requirements, a recurring Republican initiative, have also drawn sharp criticism. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) previously reported that such requirements would result in 2.2 million adults losing Medicaid coverage annually, while offering only marginal employment gains. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services / Wikimedia
“Slashing welfare and ‘reimagining’ the Affordable Care Act” are central themes of the GOP proposal, according to Politico. Republicans suggest they can save $152 billion by reducing ACA funding, further dismantling the Obama-era health care program that expanded coverage for millions of Americans. Pete Souza / Wikimedia
These sweeping cuts have sparked backlash not only from Democrats but also from moderate Republicans. As Meredith Lee Hill of Politicoobserved, GOP centrists and even some conservative members are voicing concerns over the potential fallout from these measures. “Speaker Johnson can’t afford any GOP defections,” she noted. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Critics argue that these cuts, designed to offset $10 trillion in proposed tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, disproportionately harm low-income Americans and red states that heavily rely on federal programs. Political analyst Alex Gonzalez remarked, “Trump voters in red states who rely on these programs are going to love this.” JASON BEAN/RGJ / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
While some Republicans argue that these cuts are necessary for fiscal responsibility, opposition is growing among lawmakers and advocacy groups alike. Whether Speaker Johnson can unite his party around these controversial proposals remains uncertain. Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
