Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Education or relevant government body

House Republicans Propose Cuts to Social Security, Medicare to Fund $15 Trillion Trump Tax Extension

Jan 19, 2025, 04:02 PM

House Republicans are proposing substantial budget cuts to federal programs that primarily support low-income Americans, aiming to fund an extension of Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. The proposed cuts include reducing funding for Social Security and Medicare, raising the retirement age, and altering eligibility for free school meal programs under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The CEP changes would increase the threshold for schools to qualify for free meals from 40% to 60% of students participating in means-tested programs, potentially saving $3 billion over ten years but risking increased food insecurity for children. Critics, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats, argue that these measures would disproportionately harm working families while benefiting wealthy corporations and billionaires. The tax cut extension could add as much as $15 trillion to the national deficit, according to reports.