Social Security at 90: Three Truths and A Terrible Trumpy Lie About One of America’s Greatest Economic Programs
August 14, 2025
CHN analysis shows funding caps must be lifted in order to prevent serious losses in human needs programs
CHN Staff,
March 27, 2019
Every year, the Coalition on Human needs compares funding for well over 150 human needs programs starting in FY 2010 and continuing to the current fiscal year (this year, 2019). CHN uses FY 2010 as a benchmark because that is the year before the Budget Control Act passed Congress and was signed into law by President Obama. That law called for automatic cuts in spending if Congress could not curtail spending on its own.This year, CHN tracked spending for 184 human needs programs. CHN found that 131 of the programs, or 71 percent, lost ground since FY 2010. And 54 programs were cut by 25 percent or more.
Trump officials step up attacks on Medicaid; meanwhile, CBPP pushes back on work requirement claims
David Elliot,
March 25, 2019
The Trump Administration is expanding its attacks on Medicaid – and, by extension, the Affordable Care Act – even as courts consider whether the moves constitute executive branch overreach. The Administration is pushing ahead and granting approval to states seeking to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, despite ongoing legal challenges and large-scale losses in the number of people covered. The Administration also is quietly trying to sell states on the merits of imposing block grants, or a per-person spending cap, without congressional approval.
For Puerto Rico, NAP aid could happen soon – but another dark cloud looms
David Elliot,
March 22, 2019
When Congress returns next week, senators are tentatively scheduled to consider a measure that could extend $600 million in emergency nutrition assistance to Puerto Rico. About half of the 1.35 million Puerto Ricans who receive NAP benefits began experiencing cuts earlier this month; by today – Friday, March 22 – all 1.35 million recipients will be feeling the cuts.
Human Needs Report: Trump budget, crisis in Puerto Rico, battle over emergency order at the border, and more
Leo Nguyen,
March 19, 2019
CHN just released another edition of the Human Needs Report. Read on for a detailed analysis of President Trump's FY20 budget request, plus the latest on the loss of food aid for millions, the Trump emergency declaration, a new bill to protect Dreamers, and more.
For the sake of families, we must reduce the cost of child care
Morgan Williams,
March 15, 2019
The cost of child care is generating an economic and moral crisis within the United States. With yearly prices soaring above the cost of in-state college tuition in 28 states, parents are forced to spend large portions of their income on child care at a time when they have accumulated little wealth.
