FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 3, 2025
CONTACT:
Graciela González
Director of Communications
ggonzalez@latinopolicyforum.org
312-728-4291
Latino Policy Forum: Trump Budget Will Fund “Nightmare Agenda” Against Working Class Families
“At this point, we need our state to step in and help us pick up the pieces.”
CHICAGO — President Trump’s highly controversial budget reconciliation package has passed Congress and awaits his signature. The bill makes dramatic cuts to social programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as federal education grants, to fund aggressive immigration enforcement. Earlier this week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) withheld education funding that is critical for English Learners but will impact public school districts across the country.
“Republican members of Congress, including Congressmembers from Illinois Mike Bost (12th District), Mary Miller (15th District), and Darin LaHood (16th District) have handed the Trump administration a nearly $4 trillion check to carry out their nightmare agenda,” said Latino Policy Forum President and CEO, Linda Xóchitl Tortolero. “This plan will hurt immigrants, but also many working families who are low- or middle-income, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and many others. They have slashed funding for the programs that make it possible for low-income families to receive medical care and food assistance, and for schools to support students experiencing homelessness, all to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest and aggressive immigration enforcement and detention that tears communities and families apart. This administration’s cruelty knows no bounds. At this point, we need our state to step in and help us pick up the pieces; failing to do so will have devastating and long-lasting effects on the most vulnerable residents of our state.”
The budget bill passed will have dramatic impacts on people who are low income, and many Latino and immigrant families, either through deep cuts to critical social programs that families rely on or via more aggressive immigration enforcement:
- Nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act nationally over the next ten years.
- An estimated 680,000 Latino residents in Illinois could lose healthcare coverage.
- Most Latino children in Illinois are on Medicaid.
- Latino children with foreign-born parents are more than twice as likely to live without health insurance.
- Nearly $300 billion in cuts to SNAP nationally over the next ten years.
- The bill will make it harder for nearly 2 million low-income families to qualify for food aid through SNAP. Millions will lose benefits due to burdensome work requirements, and food banks will struggle to provide groceries for families with limited means.
- The bill excludes many currently eligible and lawfully present immigrants, including those with humanitarian protections (like refugees and asylees) from eligibility for medical and nutrition supports.
- An estimated 196,000 children in Illinois will become ineligible for the federal Child Tax Credit if they don’t have a parent who has a Social Security Number (even if they pay taxes using an individual tax identification number).
- Consolidation of 18 federal education grant programs and a 69% reduced budget across all programs.
- This will impact funding for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal program to support students experiencing homelessness.
- $45 billion for immigration detention through Fiscal Year 2029, a 265% annual budget increase to ICE’s current detention budget.
- Increased ICE budget to $30 billion, 3 times its current annual budget
Adding to the fallout, OMB withheld $6.9 billion in education funds that were expected to be distributed on July 1. Cuts include:
- $1.33 billion for after school and summer learning funding, this amounts to a loss of $55.6 million across the state that will force programs to close.
- Illinois also stands to lose an additional $56.6 million for academic enrichment programs and student supports.
- $376 million for migrant education; approximately $1.9 million loss for students in Illinois who are children of migrant workers.
- $2.19 billion for teacher effectiveness and professional development; $75.6 million loss for monies intended for efforts to ensure teacher quality and make progress towards alleviating the serious teacher shortage in Illinois.
- $890 million for English Acquisition programming (Title III); $30 million loss for local school districts across the state providing services for English Learners; overall, 332,000 English Learners will be impacted in 745 out of Illinois’ 851 school districts.
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About the Latino Policy Forum
The Latino Policy Forum is the only organization in the Chicago area that facilitates the involvement of Latinos at all levels of public decision-making. The Forum conducts analysis to inform, influence and lead. Its goals are to improve education outcomes, advocate for affordable housing, promote just immigration policies and engage diverse sectors of the community, with an understanding that advancing Latinos advances a shared future. For more information, visit latinopolicyforum.org.