Statement on the Federal “Skinny Budget”: A Blueprint for Abandoning Older Americans
Last week, the federal administration released its “skinny budget”—a plan that slashes non-defense discretionary spending by 23% and guts the very programs that older New Yorkers rely on to age safely and with dignity.
This comes on top of leaked documents revealing plans to eliminate Falls Prevention, Adult Protective Services, Health Promotion, Elder Abuse Support, and Respite for Caregivers - critical lifelines for individuals and families nationwide. These programs don’t just save lives, they save money by reducing hospitalizations, homelessness, and long-term care costs.
This is happening at a time when aging in the United States and New York, in particular, has never been more unaffordable. From skyrocketing housing costs and out-of-pocket healthcare expenses to long-term care gaps and inadequate food assistance, older New Yorkers are already stretched to the breaking point. And without federal partnership, the state and local governments will be left scrambling to patch massive holes in our aging infrastructure.
If enacted, this budget would:
Cut Seniors’ Health Care Through Medicaid, through deep cuts to home and community based care.
Cut Food Assistance Through SNAP, relied upon by thousands of older New Yorkers to make ends meet and afford food.
Reduce Access to Their Social Security Benefits through deep cuts in staffing, leaving older New Yorkers to wait for hours on call lines just to be disconnected.
Slashing the HUD budget and dismantling Section 202 affordable housing for seniors, handing it to state block grants with no guarantees or accountability.
Eliminate LIHEAP, leaving thousands of older New Yorkers without heating and cooling assistance during extreme weather.
Zero out the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, cutting off critical support for senior centers, NORCs, and housing.
Eliminate Title V Senior Employment, cutting off a vital re-entry path to the workforce for low-income older New Yorkers.
Abolish AmeriCorps Seniors, ending programs that reduce isolation and support community engagement.
Jeopardize Alzheimer’s Research, which will have unprecedented consequences for the millions of families who face and will face this devastating disease.
This isn’t just bad policy—it’s un-American. We are witnessing the dismantling of the very systems that working New Yorkers have paid into and relied on for decades. Older adults across New York State deserve more than abandonment. They deserve respect, investment, and bold leadership that honors their lives—not a budget balanced on their backs.
New York City and State as well as our Congressional representatives must make clear how they will fight back—how they will protect the programs older New Yorkers depend on and stand up to these dangerous federal cuts. Silence is not an option when lives, livelihoods, and dignity are on the line.