Today, the U.S. House passed the Senate’s version of the Budget Reconciliation Bill. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk. If signed into law, this bill will result in deep and harmful cuts to the programs that millions of people with disabilities rely on to live, learn, and thrive in their communities.

At a high level, the legislation includes:

• Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, slashing almost 20% of the federal program and jeopardizing coverage for nearly 17 million people
• Nearly $200 billion in cuts to SNAP food assistance
• A new private school voucher program that diverts public education funds without guaranteeing protections for students with disabilities

While the bill includes a new option for states to create a new home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver, that provision is far from enough to offset the devastating consequences of these cuts.

For more context on what’s really in this legislation, read our joint piece with the Center for American Progress:
“The Truth About the One ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill Act’s Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare”

Below is a statement from Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States:

“Today is a dark day for people with disabilities and their families. This bill puts essential support at risk for millions. Health care, food assistance, and special education services that people rely on every day are now in jeopardy. It will force states to make impossible choices that could strip people of the services they need to live with dignity, safety, and independence. The harm will be real. Families will feel it in their homes, their schools, and their communities. But we are not giving up. The disability community has fought for generations to be seen, to be valued, and to live freely in our communities. That fight does not end today. The Arc and our nationwide network of advocates will keep going. We will never stop advocating for the policies that people with disabilities deserve.”