TAMPA — Federal support programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid are facing potential cuts in Congress’ budget.

These programs are crucial for some of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens, including low-income families, seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Many shared their concerns during a recent press conference about how these cuts could impact their lives.

What You Need To Know

  • Federal support programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid are facing potential cuts in Congress’ budget

  • The Department of Government Efficiency has been investigating Medicaid payment systems. The head of DOGE, Elon Musk, stated, “This is where the big money fraud is happening”

  • Janet Atkinson is a single mom who has spent 32 years being the caretaker for her disabled son, Taylor. She says he relies on Medicaid to survive

  • The budget resolution passed by House Republicans directs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion over a decade from Medicaid and other similar programs. The bill is intended to focus on funding tax cuts, energy and border policy

Janet Atkinson is a single mom who has spent 32 years being the caretaker for her son, Taylor.

“If it wasn't for Medicaid helping, I don't know if he'd still be here. I mean, I still pay a lot out of pocket for a lot of services and medicines,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson and others gathered in Tampa to protest proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that Congress is considering.

The Department of Government Efficiency has been investigating Medicaid payment systems. The head of DOGE, Elon Musk, stated, “This is where the big money fraud is happening.”

“They’re not telling the truth,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents Florida’s 14th Congressional District, told the crowd. “Medicare is very efficient for kids, for seniors in skilled nursing. We are not going to let them pull the wool over the eyes of our neighbors.”

“At our federal level, we are seeing an unprecedented attack on our social safety net for our senior citizens. For our poor, for people with disabilities like my brother, Juan, who is intellectually disabled,” said Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera. “We have to stand up as people of fundamental decency. When you cut Medicaid for people with disabilities, when you cut food stamps, when you cut affordable housing for people, and you’re giving that to tax breaks for people at the top, that is wrong; it is immoral.”

The budget resolution passed by House Republicans directs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion over a decade from Medicaid and other similar programs. The bill is intended to focus on funding tax cuts, energy and border policy.

Another service that could face cuts is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). People at the rally say these proposed cuts would impact millions of Floridians. According to the Florida Policy Institute, nearly one in five children experience food insecurity in the state.

“Forty percent of SNAP households have children in them. Nutrition is essential to healthy child development,” said Norin Dollard, Senior Policy Analyst and KIDS Count Director at the Florida Policy Institute.

Atkinson says she’s now advocating for other families who will be affected.

“I’m not a speaker; I’m just a parent. But I hope that by standing here today as a parent of an adult child with a disability, I can speak up for other families because this can’t happen. This will devastate our lives. So everyone needs to stand up and help us with this,” said Atkinson.

The Florida Policy Institute reports that one-fifth of residents in Hillsborough County rely on Medicaid to access affordable health care, while 13% of families benefit from the SNAP program.

In a statement to Spectrum News, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, stated, “Republicans do not want to defund social programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, or SNAP. On the contrary, my party and I have consistently affirmed our commitment to protecting these programs for generations to come. This is why we are addressing the waste, fraud, and abuse that could jeopardize the sustainability of these programs.”