SNAP, Medicaid and tax deductions on the line in Senate bill
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A Trump-backed spending plan could end health insurance coverage for millions of Americans and drastically cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP.
Why it matters: President Trump has called the legislation a "big, beautiful bill" but Feeding Texas, which represents 20 food banks in the state, says the bill would enact the "most sweeping rollback" of SNAP in U.S. history.
The big picture: The latest version of the bill, which narrowly passed the Senate this week, would slash food and health benefits for the poorest Americans, while giving tax cuts to higher earners.
- "It's a great bill. There is something for everyone," Trump said Tuesday.
The upshot: The bill would temporarily increase the cap on state and local tax deductions for federal tax returns to roughly $40,000 annually.
- Around 12% of Texas properties are taxed over $10,000, the current deduction limit.
Yes, but: The bill would also reduce nutrition funding, which includes SNAP, by $186 billion between 2025 and 2034.
- Nearly 12 million people are projected to lose health insurance under the bill's proposed Medicaid changes.
- The bill would also cut funding for energy and natural resources while allocating $175 billion for border security and $150 billion for defense.
Zoom in: Texas may have to pay an additional $806 million annually on administrative costs and food benefits if the cuts are enacted, per Feeding Texas.
- "The consequences would be profound and devastating," Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole said in a statement.
Friction point: The bill has received intense opposition across party lines.
- Democrats say the bill will hurt safety net programs. Some Republicans have expressed qualms about the budget process.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, voted for the bill after securing a temporary delay for Hawaii and Alaska on cost increases for food assistance and the removal of a planned tax on solar and wind energy projects, per Fox News.
What's next: The House and the Senate will need to agree on a unified bill to send to the president.
- "This bill needs more work across chambers and is not ready for the President's desk. We need to work together to get this right," Murkowski said in a statement.