On Wednesday, AFSCME members are holding a day of action to stop devastating cuts to Medicaid.
Anti-worker lawmakers in Congress are crafting a tax and budget plan that cuts federal funding for Medicaid. This is just so billionaires can enjoy massive tax breaks. These cuts will hurt a huge swath of Americans and harm both public services and public service workers.
Medicaid dollars help keep the doors open at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, state veterans’ homes and other health care providers. One in 5 Americans are covered by Medicaid; more than 40% of American births are covered by Medicaid.
Federal Medicaid dollars are the largest source of federal funding for state budgets, accounting for 56% of total federal funding allocated to states in 2024.
If these dollars dry up, states will have no choice but to slash budgets, and jobs, for a broad range of state and local public services, including home care and health care workers.
Other cuts target D.C. public service workers
Meanwhile, AFSCME District Council 20 members and the city of Washington, D.C., are also under attack from anti-worker lawmakers in Congress. More than $1 billion of the city’s budget — D.C. taxpayer dollars — is at risk.
These cuts would hurt D.C. residents, hurting everything from education, public safety, fire and emergency services and more. It could also cost District Council 20 members in public service their jobs. Layoffs, furloughs and hiring freezes are all possible, including for the most critical front-line workers.