(BOSTON, MA) – Statement of Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst, in response to President Trump’s budget proposal released today.

“President Donald Trump’s first budget released today, ironically named ‘A New Foundation for American Greatness,’ would harm millions of people across the country and cripple a bedrock of America’s health care system, deeply cutting Medicaid by as much as $627 billion on top of the $839 billion in cuts already proposed in the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

“Combined with the already crushing cuts to Medicaid in the AHCA, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed earlier this month, the Trump administration proposes taking a massive wrecking ball to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These two programs ensure quality, affordable care for millions of children and families, older adults and people with disabilities – and the proposed cuts would force states to ration or cut services for vulnerable Americans.

“Draconian cuts to Medicaid as proposed by the Trump administration would put even greater pressure on state budgets and make it difficult to fund other important priorities such as education, transportation and efforts to address the opioid epidemic and other substance use and mental health disorders.

“Cuts of this magnitude also break a promise Trump made repeatedly throughout the presidential campaign, in which he vowed not to cut Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security.

“The priorities outlined in this budget, deep cuts to Medicaid, nutritional assistance, student loans and disability payments to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy, once again show President Trump’s willingness to put the needs of millionaires and billionaires ahead of the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society. Community Catalyst and our partners across the country will fight these unconscionable cuts to Medicaid and programs for the underserved as the budget moves to Congress.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.