Budget Policy & Priorities / Public News Service

According to the Trump administration's 2026 fiscal year budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cut 22% of its workforce, in addition to the workforce reductions that have already taken place. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, July 11, 2025

Federal impacts to ag conservation in WI 'complex'

Wisconsin's agriculture industry could see both wins and losses under the new federal budget. Climate change isn't a priority for the Trump …

In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. (Nina Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Gender pay gap still a problem for TX women

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study reveals that women from Texas and …

Places like rural Dutch Harbor, Alaska, rely heavily on diesel powered generators for a majority of their power production. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Federal cuts threaten already challenged Alaskan power grid

Despite last-minute concessions in the Trump administration's budget, which removes alternative energy tax incentives, rural Alaska power providers …

Authors of the law may add enforcement language, such as fines for parents or involvement from the prosecutor's office, during the committee process. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Indiana mentors: ‘Curfew alone won’t cut it’

By Garrett Bergquist for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Serv…

Montana's 2025 main budget bill funded 10 recommendations from the state's Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission and Montana lawmakers passed 14 bills related to improving mental health care. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Montana to expand mental health treatment for people in justice system

After a legislative session which opened doors to expand mental health care services across Montana, a state commission said it is considering the …

Workers in the nonprofit sector predict veterans, children and older adults will be most adversely impacted by the new federal funding package. (Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

AR nonprofits prepare to fill gaps from federal funding cuts

Among the hundreds of pages making up the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" just signed into law is a requirement some people must work to receive Medicaid…

The Trump administration considers programs focusing on any facet of diversity, equity or inclusion to be a violation of federal anti-discrimination law. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

IL school districts serving immigrants work to stay low-key

The Trump administration has made it clear it will cut funding from schools continuing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and with record …

Nearly one-third of Illinois' state budget is allocated to Medicaid and more than 60% of the funding is federal dollars. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Medicaid cuts: Disproportionate effects predicted for LGBTQ+ in IL

Advocacy groups are speaking out about how they believe congressional cuts to Medicaid will disproportionately affect caregiver LGBTQ+ communities in …

Fort Laramie is one of Wyoming's many national historic sites. (Richard Wright/Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Concerns grow over future funding for Wyoming historic preservation

The Wyoming Historic Preservation Office is a state office born from the National Historic Preservation Act, a federal law. After a three-month …

Vanderbilt University's Spring 2025 survey polled more than 1,200 registered voters in Tennessee. (Adobe Stock)

TN poll suggests predicted Medicare cuts will prove unpopular

While cuts to food support programs and Medicaid gained attention as the debate over the budget bill went on, there is also a long-term likelihood it …

Residents along the Guadalupe River say it will take years for the area to recovery from the deadly flooding event on July 4. (Photo courtesy Casey Claiborne)

Texans grieve victims of deadly Hill Country flooding

Tributes and memorials are pouring in for victims of the deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. The storm stalled over the Texas …

In addition to affecting hospice services, the new federal budget is estimated to significantly increase health care costs for more than 1 million low-income Medicare enrollees. (Adobe Stock)

Former WI mayor: Potential Medicare cuts would worsen aging crisis

A former Wisconsin mayor said the new federal budget will only worsen the current aging crisis families like hers have already been facing. Analysis …

Iowa generates 59% of its electricity from wind, the highest share of any state. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa solar industry threatened by tax incentive cuts

Iowa is among the nation's leaders in wind energy production, and the state is looking to follow suit with solar power. But Congress has eliminated …

Arizona is among the top five states in the nation for solar energy production. (Adobe Stock)

Tax incentive cuts could dim Arizona solar investment

As part of the Trump administration's new budget, Arizona's burgeoning solar industry faces the elimination of tax incentives that have encouraged …

Protesters gathered in Baker City on July 2nd to protest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. (Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon)

Anti-hunger groups warn OR must backfill federal SNAP cuts

Oregon lawmakers would have to find an extra $850 million in the state budget starting in 2028 to cover cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

The new tax cut and spending law contains the largest federal cuts to SNAP benefits in the nation's history. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

AR hunger rating could worsen under new federal budget

Now that President Donald Trump's big budget bill has been signed into law, Arkansas nonprofits that rely on federal funding to help people in need …

The U.S. Department of Education has not said if or when it will release $6.8 billion in federal grants to school districts. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

NV schools face budget emergency as Congress impounds federal funds

Panic is setting in at school districts across the Silver State as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. State data show the …

The federal government has not released a timeline for disbursing $6.8 billion in grants to school districts nationwide. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)<br />

CA school budgets in disarray after Trump freezes federal funding

Panic has set in at school districts across the Golden State as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. Tony Thurmond…

State governments await guidance on whether or when $6.8 billion dollars in federal grants to school districts will be released. (Insta_photos/Adobe Stock)<br />

Freeze on federal grants squeezes WA school budgets

Panic has set in at school districts across Washington state as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. Chris Reykdal…

In Tennessee, more than 37% of SNAP recipients are in households that include older adults or individuals with disabilities. (Selene Studio/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee hunger relief group warns SNAP cuts would affect rural families

Tennessee hunger-fighting advocates warn that proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps, could deepen food …

The Citizens Utility Board says more than 91,000 Minnesota households had their utility service shut off for nonpayment last year. The board cited new research warning there would be more pressure on ratepayers if clean energy incentives are eliminated at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

Under federal budget bill, how would your electricity bill fare?

If the federal government finalizes the budget reconciliation bill in play, pro-consumer voices in Minnesota warn the changes will not be friendly to …

The Montana Environmental Policy Act, which supports the state constitution, was weakened by a bill that passed in the state this session. Some involved with the legislation expect lawsuits will challenge the new law. (Adobe Stock)

Montana governor vetoes several bipartisan conservation bills

Environmental and wildlife conservation in Montana took hits during this year's state legislative session, including vetoes from the governor on …

Pennsylvania gets $4.3 billion yearly for SNAP, helping 1.9 million people but the reconciliation bill could cut benefits for 401,000 Pennsylvanians, according to the Center for American Progress. (Kleberpicui/Adobe Stock)

PA educators warn federal cuts threaten health care, food benefits

As the Senate passes President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill and sends it back to the House, Pennsylvania educators warned in its current form…

The budget bill being debated in Congress would shift some Medicaid administrative costs to states, which could force some hospitals in rural Iowa to reduce services or close. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid reductions would end coverage for tens of thousands of Iowans

Members of Congress are still debating the massive tax and spending bill which could include deep cuts to social service programs critical to Iowa…

North Dakota classrooms sit empty right now but when they fill up in late August, K-12 students and parents might notice more districts trying to juggle staff to help with lingering teacher shortages. (Adobe Stock)

ND school districts get no 'summer break' from budget maneuvering

It is only early summer but North Dakota school districts are preparing for the fall. As in recent years, some administrators are performing what …

Tennessee expects to get more than $651 million over five years to boost public transit under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Sunshine/Adobe Stock)

TN community braces for cuts as 'big budget bill' advances

A Tennessee mayor warned proposed federal cuts in the budget reconciliation bill, which passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday would have devastating …

The process known as budget reconciliation bypasses the usual Senate filibuster rules and allows bills to be passed with a simple majority of 51 votes, or 50, plus the Vice President's tie-breaking vote. (Adobe Stock)

IL professor: Senate-passed budget bill not a win, yet

An Illinois professor cautions against premature celebrations of victory or defeat after the U.S. Senate passed President Donald Trump's budget …

Some 77% of Americans favor solar power but it is down from about 90% in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Big federal budget bill advances with help of Utah senators

After being debated for days, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, are among those who voted to advance the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

As the nation's farmers retire, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers could fill the void but their input is needed in developing support programs. A Minnesota group said it was trying to create awareness before a federal grant was abruptly canceled. (Adobe Stock)

MN ag group, promoting local food systems, sues feds over canceled grant

Farm-linked organizations, including one from Minnesota, are ratcheting up legal pressure over canceled federal grants, saying projects designed to …

The Internal Revenue Service approved more than 300,000 federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases in 2024, totaling more than $2 billion. (Adobe Stock) <br />

KS manufacturer: Ending EV tax credits would hurt U.S. competition

President Donald Trump's budget bill took another step forward Tuesday by passing in the U.S. Senate. The bill would end some tax credits one Kansas …

The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform predicts six of California's 58 rural hospitals would have to close if the Republican budget bill is signed into law in its current form. (Pitchayaarch/Adobe Stock)

CA members of Congress face pressure to reject cuts to Medi-Cal

As the U.S. Senate has approved President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill, health care advocates are hoping to get California's Republican …

Homelessness among children in Ohio has increased by 10% since January 2020 and family homelessness has risen 11%, highlighting deepening housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio mayor says rising rents drive 'hidden homelessness'

As housing costs continue to squeeze Ohio families, Youngstown's mayor warned out-of-state landlords are pushing many out of their homes, undermining …

Ohio ranks among the top 10 states for electric vehicle-related manufacturing jobs, with more than $3 billion invested in recent EV and battery projects, according to EV Jobs Hub. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio manufacturer warns federal rollbacks could stall EV progress

Ohio's fast-growing electric vehicle sector could face serious setbacks if proposed changes to federal clean energy tax credits move forward…

A House version of the budget reconciliation bill keeps a small EV tax credit through 2026 but only for manufactures that have sold fewer than 200,000 electric vehicles. (Optimal EV)

IN factory braces for end of EV tax breaks

Indiana workers could feel the effects of a sweeping federal bill targeting electric vehicle tax credits. Optimal EV's plant in Elkhart employs 35 …

Nevada Assembly Bill 121 protects tenants from hidden or

NV housing advocates express concern over Lombardo's vetoes

Housing advocates in Nevada are criticizing Gov. Joe Lombardo's decision to veto what they call essential housing measures. Anwar Green and other …

The California Parent and Youth Helpline offers free professional counseling seven days a week, with translation services in 240 languages. (Carballo/Adobe Stock)<br />

CA Parent and Youth Helpline cut from state budget

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed …

In Pennsylvania, EV advocates rallied support for cleaner transportation. They're urging U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to protect federal funding for EV infrastructure and tax credits. (Courtesy of Rachael)

PA leaders urge Congress to safeguard EV tax credits, citing savings, clean air

Federal tax credits for electric vehicles are helping drive clean transportation in the Lehigh Valley, but advocates warn they're at risk of being …

In 2023, the Iowa Food Bank provided meals to more than 661,000 families. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed SNAP cuts threaten Iowa families, food banks

Congress is debating a budget bill that could result in significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Those …

Rogue Climate staff and volunteers are seen at the community-led Fire Relief Center, following the Almeda Fire in the Rogue Valley in 2020. (Rogue Climate)

Oregon state budget defunds climate resiliency programs

Oregon's new state budget cuts funding for programs intended to protect residents from extreme weather and make renewable energy more accessible…

Nebraska's food insecurity rate of 12.2% is a percentage point higher than the national average, according to an October 2023 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Social service cuts would hobble Nebraska food banks, families

Pending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cuts could mean large reductions to services that provide meals to Nebraska's most vulnerabl…

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says farmers in south Texas are suffering the most from water shortages caused by drought and failing infrastructure. (sawitreelyaon/Adobe Stock)

Without changes, TX could run out of water by 2030

Because of drought and failing infrastructure, the state of Texas will run out of water by 2030, according to the Texas Water Development Board…

The study found 51% of Medicaid recipients connected to small businesses are children of owners or employees. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV small business labor force at risk from Medicaid cuts

A new report says cuts to Medicaid will weaken the small business workforce nationwide, potentially shrinking local economies in rural states like …

Solar giant Mosaic, based in Oakland, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few weeks ago, citing uncertainty around solar tax credits. (Surangkanang/Adobe Stock)

Clean-energy advocates: Spending bill before Senate would cost jobs in CA

Groups representing workers in the renewable power sector are slamming the possible repeal of clean-energy tax credits in the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is seeing an increase in out-of-state patients seeking gender-affirming care as neighboring states enact restrictions and bans. (Adobe Stock)

IL abortion services continue to skyrocket, straining provider resources

Illinois serves as a crucial access point for abortion services and sees the most out-of-state patients in the country. Since Roe v. Wade was …

At this year's U.S. Conference of Mayors, the 2025 Police Reform and Equitable Justice Grant Program honored cities such as Cincinnati for innovative reforms. (Bryan J. Kelly/Adobe Stock)

Michigan mayor shares highlights from national meeting of city leaders

A Michigan mayor is back from Tampa, Florida, after attending a national gathering of nearly 200 city leaders. The 93rd Annual meeting of the U.S…

A poll showed Americans largely support requiring oil and gas companies to pay pollution fees but Congress wants to delay a polluter fee established under the Biden administration. (Adobe Stock)

Congressional budget battle threatens Ohio methane crackdown

Ohio is stepping up efforts to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas sector, but Congress is attempting to delay a federal methane emissions …

In 2023, rural hospitals in Pennsylvania created $17 billion in economic impact and supported more than 80,000 jobs statewide. (Alexander Raths/Adobe Stock)

PA rural hospitals, seniors at risk if Congress cuts Medicaid

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has hit a roadblock. The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a key Medicaid provider tax change violates chamber …

In May, protesters in Hanford rallied against Medicaid cuts. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that almost 8 million people would lose Medicaid under the Republican

During Pride Month, CA LGBTQ+ advocates fight proposed cuts to Medi-Cal

June is Pride Month, and people who fight for LGBTQ+ health care are speaking out against huge proposed cuts to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in the …

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