New Yorkers — including laid off federal workers, community organizations and labor unions — took to the streets of Manhattan Saturday to demand Washington politicians do more to stop the Trump administration’s continued job cuts.

There are concerns over other cuts to vital programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

“Stop the cuts, stop the cuts, and fight like hell to protect every single family in this country,” Jose Lopez, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, said.

Israel Melendez is among the hundreds, if not thousands, who gathered in Foley Square to protest and march.

“We cannot allow these attacks to happen. We work very hard to be able to uplift standards, and not to have people take them away, so when we see an administration that’s coming here, just trying to take away benefits, trying to cut Medicaid and Medicare from everyday people, we just can’t stand around and not do anything,” he said.

Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million adults and children enrolled in the health care safety net program.

Manhattan resident Edwin Torres works in health care at an assisted living facility.

“What’s going on is shameful. We work in home care, it’s paid by Medicaid, so what’s gonna happen? You gonna cut Medicaid and Medicare, some of these people who live in their homes or live in nursing homes, what, they’re gonna be kicked out? Cause that’s what’s gonna happen,” Torres said.

Around 7 million New York state residents rely on Medicaid, according to the State’s Department of Health. GOP House members are considering tying entitlements to work or volunteer requirements.

The Trump administration says it will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits, but is laying off Social Security Administration workers and shutting down some of the field offices. The White House also says it’s looking to cut waste and fraud in entitlement spending.

“DOGE and this president are trying to strip back what poor people and working families need, which is health care, which is food assistance through the SNAP program, which is funding for education and community services. And they’re doing that in an attempt to extend tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires for the next 10 years,” Lopez said.

Torres says he has to work two jobs to make ends meet.

“Home care workers also get paid by Medicaid, so what’s gonna happen to them? They’re barely making it as it is,” he said. “I have two jobs, to maintain, to pay rent, to buy food, because inflation is crazy, so you really can’t make it.”

Many of Saturday’s rallygoers are bracing themselves for possible changes to the entitlements they depend on.