For countless families in the Mahoning Valley, assistance programs such as Medicaid and SNAP serve as essential support systems.

A plan put forth by House Republicans aims to slash federal expenditures on various programs by trillions over the next decade, intending to finance the continuation of tax cuts that were initially enacted in 2017 during the first term of the president-elect.

John Woods, the proprietor of Insurance Navigation, expressed that this situation could result in greater difficulties for individuals who are covered by Medicaid.

"Woods stated, 'The individuals who truly benefit from Medicaid often aren't the most vocal. They are those who are in need and face financial instability, which could result in increased medical debt.'"

As reported by the Ohio Medicaid Dashboard, approximately 200,000 individuals in the Mahoning Valley have Medicaid coverage.

Republican legislators are seeking to slash billions from Medicaid by decreasing federal funding and transferring that burden to individual states.

The Republicans are targeting more than just health care for cuts. They are also aiming to save $300 billion by slashing SNAP benefits.

Mike Iberis, the Executive Director of the Second Harvest Food Bank, is concerned that this situation may result in an increased demand for assistance within the community. 

"Iberis mentioned that when individuals exhaust their funds by the month's end or at the conclusion of a billing cycle, they often turn to food pantries. This trend could lead to an increase in the number of people seeking assistance from our pantries." 

Over 100,000 individuals in the Valley are beneficiaries of SNAP assistance.

"Woods remarked, 'We are already facing significant challenges with food deserts; this only adds to an already dire situation.'"