Washington, D.C., July 4 – In painful irony, on the very day our nation celebrates independence and freedom, President Trump signed into law a budget reconciliation bill that strips away critical lifeline programs—threatening the independence, health, and dignity of millions across the country. Disability Belongs™, a nonpartisan, disability-led nonprofit, strongly condemns the passage of this harmful legislation and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to advocacy and systemic change for people with disabilities.
“Across the country, we’re reeling from the passage of this legislation,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Ariel Simms. “We’re deeply concerned about what this will mean for us, our friends, our families, our loved ones, and our communities. Despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead, we know that advocates and allies will continue to rally together to champion good policy, policy that benefits and uplifts disabled and marginalized communities, rather than harms us. We have been through this before, and as a community, we will continue to fight.”
The swift and opaque process that led to the passage of this bill represents an utter disregard for democratic norms and the lives of millions of Americans. Decisions made behind closed doors and in the middle of the night are now set to slash nearly a trillion dollars in funds that sustain human needs, including food security and healthcare. This should never have been done lightly and through a wholly inadequate and unprecedented legislative process.
For disabled individuals, older adults, and many other marginalized groups, the stakes are life and death. Millions will lose access to medical coverage, risking life-threatening situations. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides vital food aid to more than 40 million Americans, including many individuals with disabilities, older adults, and children. More than 15 million disabled individuals rely on Medicaid for essential healthcare and home and community-based services. Cuts to these and other programs could lead to increased institutionalization of disabled people and older adults, curbing autonomy and independence.
After policymakers’ efforts to fast-track this bill, Disability Belongs™ will advocate just as swiftly. We will keep showing up to hold policymakers accountable to the people they are meant to serve. As a community, we reached out and urged policymakers to prevent this bill from becoming law. While this is a discouraging moment, we will not let ourselves be defeated; instead, we hold on to hope and the power of collective action.
