ACA and MEDICAID CUTS, GOV’T SHUTDOWN, SNAP
Senate Democrats, in protest against cuts to Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid funds, have refused to approve Trump’s 2026 budget. This has caused a partial US government shutdown: some of the 1.4 million federal workers are on unpaid leave, others are working without pay, and others are working with pay. Among the latter are the military and law enforcement agents, including ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers. Among suspended programs are SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program) which provides funds to help poor people pay for food. There are 42 million recipients of SNAP benefits, one-eighth of the US population. Trump’s suspension of SNAP has been temporarily halted by court order.
From the above it can be seen where the Trump administration’s priorities lie: endless funds for military and paramilitary forces, cuts in anti-poverty, education, health, housing, research, and climate programs. And behind the budget fight is the Republican desire to cut taxes for the wealthy, a group already woefully undertaxed.
Source: the BBC, 10/29/25 and The New York Times, 11/2/25