1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

The proposed budget cuts to mandatory spending programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) could have severe negative impacts on foster youth and those aging out of the foster care system. These vulnerable individuals often lack a support system and rely heavily on these vital safety net programs for healthcare coverage and food assistance as they transition to independence. Stripping away this crucial aid risks leaving them without access to necessary medical care and basic nutrition, jeopardizing their well-being and ability to become self-sufficient. We urge you to reconsider these harmful cuts that disproportionately affect foster youth. Instead, we should be strengthening the social services and resources available to this population to help set them on a path towards stable, productive lives after exiting foster care. Preserving and bolstering programs like Medicaid and SNAP is an investment in their future success and benefits society as a whole. We call on you to protect and expand the assistance foster youth depend on during this precarious transition period.