For Immediate Release: July 3, 2025
Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives held its final vote on the budget reconciliation bill. After being approved by the Senate by a vote of 51 – 50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, the budget reconciliation bill passed in the House.
After holding the procedural vote open for hours on Wednesday night and after many hours of debate, the final vote occurred on Thursday afternoon. The bill passed by a vote of 218 – 214. The final bill cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and will endanger 17 million Americans’ health insurance coverage.
“This is a devastating day for disabled Americans,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. “The catastrophic effects of this bill will reverberate for generations to come. As a result of this bill, 51,000 Americans will die every single year from needless, preventable deaths.”
The budget reconciliation bill will trigger a massive crisis in our healthcare system, which already struggled to support people with disabilities adequately and has been under even more significant strain since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. At least 300 rural hospitals are at risk of immediate closure because of this bill, and 700 more (or one-third of all rural hospitals in the U.S.) are at risk of closure due to financial strain. Nearly 14 million Medicaid enrollees reside in rural areas, including over 3 million disabled individuals. Without Medicaid funding, rural hospitals might face closure or be forced to cut services. This means Americans living in rural areas may soon reside a dangerous distance from the nearest hospital. Wait times will increase in all healthcare facilities, even those in suburban and urban areas, and even for patients not on Medicaid.
“To every disabled American who feels terrified and defeated right now: You are not alone,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. “I am crushed for every single disabled person who will no longer be able to work because they will lose coverage for the personal care attendant who ensures they can get ready for the office. I am terrified for every disabled American who will be weeded out by strict, difficult-to-keep-up-with administrative requirements. I am heartbroken for every disabled family who loses SNAP and will now have to choose between paying for medications and putting food on the table. No one should ever have to make these decisions.”
“While the outcome of today’s vote is an enormous blow, disabled people will keep fighting and working to build systems that allow us to lead full, dignified lives in the communities and with the people we love. Already, disabled people must adapt, share resources, and crowdfund to make up for gaps in programs and services that are meant to support us. Our community will continue to show up for one another, as we always have, to survive what comes next and insist upon a future where we can thrive,” Town concluded.
President Trump is expected to sign the bill as soon as possible, but the cuts will not take effect immediately. Cuts begin to go in effect at the end of 2026 and roll out over the course of 10 years from the legislation’s signature date. In the coming weeks and months, AAPD will provide resources and information to help members of the community navigate changes in care, health coverage, and benefits.