Proposed budget cuts prioritize border security over American families and communities
Recently, the Trump administration released its 2020 budget proposal calling for a $54 billion (9 percent) reduction in non-defense discretionary (NDD) funding, which goes toward health and human services, education, workforce development, housing and urban development and a broad range of domestic programs. as compared to 2019.
After adjusting for inflation, the proposed cuts from the 2019 budget total $69 billion (11 percent). Meanwhile, the same budget proposed a five percent increase to defense programs.
The cumulative impact on some key areas on NDD funding may be even higher based on the combination of cuts in some agencies and raises in others. For example, the budget proposal calls for an increase in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security (15 percent) including $8.6 billion in new funding for a border wall, while cutting funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (12 percent), Housing and Urban Development (18 percent) and the Department of Education (10 percent).
While the administration’s budget proposal is unlikely to pass in its current form, it exacerbates an already notable and disproportionate shift to increased defense and border spending at the cost of domestic spending that supports families and communities. These cuts have the potential to undermine support for families and communities, which in turn could have long-term consequences for our nation’s economic success.
For example, the administration proposes a $143 trillion cut to Medicaid, additional work requirements and a shift from Medicaid’s current pay-as-needed system into a block grant, reducing Medicaid access among children, older adults and individuals living with disabilities.
Proposed changes to Medicaid could cost as many as 1.4 to 4 million individuals their health care coverage according to a recent study from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/436914-proposed-budget-cuts-prioritize-border-security-over-american-families