Leaders must say NO to federal budget proposal that will devastate children, families and communities

NCYL denounces H.R. 1 and encourages Senate to reject bill that would gut billions of dollars in critical investments

The House of Representatives, in the early-morning hours of May 22, passed H.R. 1 — a sweeping and devastating budget bill that would gut billions of dollars in critical investments for children, families, and communities nationwide. The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) strongly condemns this legislation and calls on the U.S. Senate and state leaders to reject these harmful cuts and policies that jeopardize children’s health, safety, and futures.

Budgets reveal a government’s priorities — and this budget sends a clear message: the well-being of children and families comes second to tax cuts for the wealthy.

“We see every day that young people and families thrive when their basic needs are met — when they have access to healthcare, food, stable housing, and quality education,” said Kristen Weber, Senior Director of Child Welfare at NCYL. “This cruel and callous budget bill doesn’t just neglect those needs, it actively strips them away.”

H.R. 1 and related proposed federal actions would harm families and communities in wide-ranging and compounding ways. Among other impacts, they would:

• Strip healthcare coverage from millions: The bill slashes $700 billion from Medicaid, putting an estimated 10.3 million people at risk of losing healthcare, including 1 in 5 children enrolled in the program. These cuts threaten to increase maternal mortality rates and widen racial health disparities.
• Cut vital nutrition programs for children: Nearly 11 million people — including more than 4 million children — would lose access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), a proven tool to reduce poverty and improve child health.
• Destabilize families that are already struggling: The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill would reduce resources for the lowest-income households by 2% of their income, while enriching the wealthiest by 4% — deepening income inequality and economic instability.
• Roll back education and early learning opportunities: The federal government is actively dismantling educational protections and threatening programs like Head Start and higher education grants, forcing children and young adults — especially from marginalized communities — to bear the cost.

The consequences of these actions will be swift and felt for generations. 

Medicaid funds 42% of births in the U.S., meaning these cuts will impact children from the moment they're born, influencing their lifelong health and well-being. When families lose access to essential services, children are put at risk of poverty, food insecurity, disrupted education, and even wrongful family separation.

States are already feeling the ripple effects. California, for example, has proposed massive cuts to Medi-Cal and safety net services in anticipation of reduced federal funding. In states like Utah and Illinois, “trigger laws” would automatically end Medicaid expansion once federal funds shrink.

This is not inevitable. Federal and state governments have the power to choose a different path — one that prioritizes children and families over billionaires, and health over harm.

NCYL urges the U.S. Senate to reject H.R. 1 and any policies that dismantle protections for children and families. We also call on community partners, advocates, and families nationwide to raise their voices against these dangerous cuts.

“Investing in children and communities isn’t charity — it’s an investment in our shared future,” Weber added. “This nation's young people and their families deserve better. We all do."

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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transform our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every child thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.