Millions of households with low income must make difficult decisions every day when juggling the cost of many essential expenses — housing, food, utilities, child care, transportation to work, health care, and more. While costs continue to rise, income remains limited. Nearly half of households renting are cost-burdened (spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent). Households with low incomes spend about 18 percent of their income on energy, over three times the national average.
Senate Republicans have introduced a reconciliation bill that echoes the House’s approach to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), proposing sweeping and deeply concerning cuts. While not identical, the Senate proposal poses a similarly serious threat to food assistance for millions of Americans.
Late on Friday, May 30, the White House released a more detailed version of its fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget, expanding on the earlier “skinny budget.” The proposal maintains the administration’s stated goal of significantly reducing funding for key domestic programs, including those that support housing, education, nutrition, and health.