1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

The budget bill is a devastating blow to the broad coalition of people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, health care providers, and state officials who have tried to tell Congress, again and again, that they are making a mistake in pushing this legislation forward. Medicaid is a promise from the federal government to people with disabilities, a reflection of our values as Americans that everyone should have the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For millions of Americans, Medicaid provides a better shot at achieving those ideals amidst systems that still privilege the few and disenfranchise many. People with disabilities, their families, friends, caregivers, and allies will not forget this cruelty. We will not forget that representatives in Congress and this Administration claimed they would protect Medicaid while they actually enacted the biggest healthcare cuts in our nation’s history. The disability community will remember this moment—that on the eve of the 4th of July, our government has not only failed us but has intentionally forsaken us. As we anticipate the President signing the bill into law on Independence Day, we will know that this bill is anti-American by the way it decimates the systems that empower people with disabilities to live independent, meaningful lives. ~ Excerpt from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities Statement on Historic Cuts to Medicaid, July 3, 2025