Experts Discuss Strategies for Coping with Federal Cuts

White Plains, NY – June 4, 2025 – As cuts to safety net programs are debated daily on Capitol Hill, local Nonprofit leaders will meet next week to share information and strategies on how to cope with proposed federal budget changes that could leave millions without critical services.

In the 16th and 17th Congressional Districts covering Westchester and Putnam, more than $4.5 billion will be cut from Medicaid and Child Health Plus programs that insure children, people with disabilities, seniors and low-income families.

Navigating Uncertainty: Strategies for Nonprofit Resilience Amid the Current Federal Landscape will be held on June 13 from 8:30-10:30 am at the Westchester Library System, 570 Taxter Road in Elmsford.

The breakfast program will bring together nonprofit leaders, business professionals, and others to discuss what can be done to safeguard the most vulnerable who would be affected by expected cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other safety net programs.

“Because of the importance of this topic, we are opening this program, normally limited to NPW members, to the general public,’’ said Nonprofit Westchester Executive Director Jan Fisher. “It is essential that everyone in our community educate themselves on how we can unite to help those in our communities who will suffer the most should Congress approve this budget as is.’’

Maria Samuels, Executive Director of Westchester Disabled On the Move, which represents people with disabilities, is sponsoring the program. “Because our constituency – people with disabilities, seniors, and those who rely on safety net programs to survive – will be disproportionately affected by these cuts, we must raise our voices and fight for a more just outcome. We hope people will join us for this important program,” she said.

Nearly $1 trillion in cuts are proposed to Medicaid and food stamps, as part of the President’s sweeping federal budget proposal. If the legislation is approved, millions of Americans could lose benefits. They include children, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.

In the 16th and 17th Congressional Districts which represent Westchester and Putnam, there are 434,800 people who receive Medicaid and Child Health Plus. Hospitals would also suffer with the Hospital Association of New York State (HAYNS) reporting that 55% of hospital patient service revenue in these districts comes from Medicare and Medicaid. And that hospitals make up 10 percent of the state’s GDP and are among the top 10 employers.

One in five Americans - more than 71 million people - rely on Medicaid for healthcare. Roughly 42 million Americans receive food stamps, according to the federal agencies that oversee them.

States would have to shoulder more of the costs of operating these programs, impacting everyone.

To register for the program, visit www.npwestchester.org/upcoming-events