In Case You Missed It…

| By CBPP

This week at CBPP, we focused on food assistance, health, income security, climate, state budgets and taxes, and the economy. Please note that we’ll have minimal to no postings for the next two weeks. Have a pleasant August!

On food assistance, CBPP President Sharon Parrott released a statement on the Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill’s failure to address the unfolding child hunger crisis and urged Congress to pass bipartisan legislation this year to address the crisis without making deeper SNAP cuts down the road. We updated our SNAP participation tracker with additional state data showing fewer children are participating in SNAP since the harmful 2025 Republican reconciliation law took effect.
On health, we launched a new health coverage tracker documenting the decline in Affordable Care Act Marketplace and Medicaid enrollment as the harmful Republican reconciliation law and new Trump Administration policies take effect. Laura Harker, Becky Woolf, Laura Guerra-Cardus, and Breanna Sharer highlighted how some states protected health coverage while others deepened harm in response to federal Medicaid cuts in the 2025 Republican reconciliation law. Allie Gardner and Allison Orris warned that recent actions by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will deepen harm caused by the reconciliation law’s Medicaid cuts. Gardner also explained how a proposed CMS rule on provider taxes would go beyond the 2025 Republican reconciliation law, deepening federal funding cuts to Medicaid.
On income security, Ife Finch Floyd looked back on lessons from 30 years of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, warning that it is neither a success nor a model for other basic needs programs.
On climate, Mikaela Tajo underscored how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), one of the most significant climate laws in U.S. history, has shown the value in investing in the clean energy transition and urged policymakers to consider future proposals that will help the clean energy transition happen faster, more affordably, and more equitably.
On state budgets and taxes, Joanna LeFebvre warned that some states are increasing spending on private school vouchers, jeopardizing access to quality public education for all students. Rachel Jacobson noted that states began scaling back expensive subsidies for data centers in this year’s legislative sessions, but they should do more next year to protect needed revenue.
On the economy, Malik Woullard and Gbenga Ajilore explained that while Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a useful measure of economic health, there are limits to what any single indicator can tell us about the well-being of the people behind the number.

Chart of the Week – ACA Marketplace Enrollment Dropping After Premium Tax Credit Enhancements Allowed to Lapse

ACA Marketplace Enrollment Dropping After Premium Tax Credit Enhancements Allowed to Lapse

Medicaid Enrollment Declining; Drops Likely to Steepen After 2027

Change in enrollment from to

Marketplace enrollment includes enrollees with an active plan who have also paid their monthly premium.

Open enrollment shows the number of people who selected plans during the annual open enrollment period, including some who did not subsequently pay their premium and maintain an active plan.

Source: CBPP calculations from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state program data.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | cbpp.org

Georgia Medicaid expansion enrollment data reflect people enrolled in its Pathways to Coverage program, who, like Medicaid expansion enrollees, will be subject to the work requirement.

Wisconsin Medicaid expansion enrollment data reflect adults without children who have incomes up to 100% of poverty covered through their 1115 waiver, who, like Medicaid expansion enrollees, will be subject to the work requirement.

The Center was active on social media this week. Here are some highlights:

Sharon Parrott posted a thread to X and Bluesky on the failed Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill vote, urging Congress to reach a bipartisan solution this year that addresses the unfolding child hunger crisis without making deeper SNAP cuts later.
Wesley Tharpe posted a thread to X and Bluesky on how Missouri voters rejected a proposal to eliminate the state’s personal income tax, which funds two-thirds of the budget.
Brendan Duke posted a thread to X and Bluesky on bipartisan agreement in the Senate to delay a proposed rule that would politicize federal grantmaking.
Zoë Neuberger posted a thread to X and Bluesky in observance of National Breastfeeding Month, on how WIC supports breastfeeding by providing nutritious foods tailored to the needs of parents and babies, counseling, and pumps.
Ife Finch Floyd posted a video explaining why TANF's policies have failed to make life more affordable for families experiencing poverty.
Gbenga Ajilore posted a new thread to X and Bluesky, and a video providing insights and analysis on July's jobs report.

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this week. Here are some highlights:

Multistate Monitor — Missouri rejects income tax phase-out, bucking state trend
Thomas Reuters
August 6, 2026

Republicans Blocked Healthcare Subsidies—and Now More Americans Are Going Uninsured
The Nation
August 6, 2026

Millions of U.S. children could lose free school meals this fall due to SNAP changes, experts say
CBS News
August 6, 2026

Louisiana’s SNAP numbers drop, but not due to work requirements or citizenship
Louisiana Illuminator
August 5, 2026

Arkansas healthcare providers alarmed by potential end of state’s Medicaid expansion
Arkansas Advocate
August 4, 2026

Farm bill fight not quelled
Politico
August 3, 2026

Over 4 million people are no longer receiving food aid amid sweeping changes to SNAP
NPR
August 3, 2026

Congress May Actually Try to Put a (Temporary) Limit on Trump’s Latest Power Grab
Talking Points Memo
August 3, 2026

Meet the Americans Who Can’t Afford Haircuts or Toilet Paper
New York Times
August 1, 2026

In Case You Missed It…

ACA Marketplace Enrollment Dropping After Premium Tax Credit Enhancements Allowed to Lapse

Medicaid Enrollment Declining; Drops Likely to Steepen After 2027

Change in enrollment from to

Authors

CBPP