The impact of the massive spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day is expected to filter down to infants and toddlers—a segment of the population that’s particularly vulnerable to cuts to the federal social safety net.
Many middle-class and wealthy families will see benefits from the legislation, but programs that help low-income families keep babies healthy have been cut back. While state money funds public schools and preschool in some cases, programs supporting the youngest children are largely backed by the federal government.
The law extends tax cuts Trump passed during his first term and pours billions more dollars into border security as he seeks to broaden his crackdown on immigration. To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps—programs relied upon by poor households with children— by more than $1 trillion.
