The Far-Reaching Harmful Impacts of the Reconciliation Bill — on Families, Older Adults, Immigrants, and State Budgets
The far-reaching consequences of President Trump’s newly enacted Budget Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 1) —passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025 — will be felt in every corner of the country. Although the fallout will be local, the design is federal. This is not accidental; it is a deliberate strategy to make essential programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) more expensive and politically unsustainable at the state level. By forcing states to shoulder greater expenses and administer these cuts, Republican federal lawmakers deflect responsibility for weakening the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. Despite strong opposition from Senate and House Democrats — joined by governors, advocates, and constituents — Republicans advanced a bill that prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy while gutting support for families with low incomes and placing new costs on states.