WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate narrowly passed the 2025 Budget Resolution on Saturday along party lines, sparking significant debate over its implications for vital social programs. Republicans blocked 19 amendments aimed at protecting Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP benefits, as well as addressing the economic fallout from President Trump’s tariff orders and federal workforce restructuring by DOGE.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) strongly opposed the budget, citing its adverse effects on working families and vulnerable populations. “I voted a hard NO on the Republicans’ so-called ‘big, beautiful’ budget bill,” Fetterman said. “I will never support any bill that strips Medicaid, Medicare, or SNAP benefits from Americans to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires. Pennsylvania deserves better than this and I’ll keep fighting for a government that serves the people, not special interests.”
The FY25 Budget Resolution establishes overall government spending limits and serves as a blueprint for Congressional funding priorities through the appropriations process. Critics, including Fetterman, argue that the budget prioritizes tax cuts for wealthy Americans over critical programs affecting millions.
Key Concerns Raised by Opponents
- Medicaid and CHIP: Over 3.1 million Pennsylvanians, including 39% of children in the state, depend on these programs for health coverage.
- Social Security: Reorganization under DOGE threatens payouts to more than 325,000 Pennsylvanians, totaling $232.8 million in monthly benefits.
- Economic Impact of Tariffs: Trump’s tariff orders could cost an average U.S. family $4,000 annually, with Pennsylvania potentially losing $5.84 billion in economic activity and over 347,000 jobs.
- SNAP Benefits: More than 2 million Pennsylvanians, including veterans and children, rely on food assistance, which brought $4.27 billion to the state in FY 2024.
Senator Fetterman emphasized his commitment to protecting critical programs and alleviating financial pressures on Pennsylvanians. As the appropriations process begins, he pledged to work with lawmakers to ensure federal funding supports the needs of the public, not special interests.
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