From DC: Sign On to Support HUD Program Funding, 90 Years of Social Security, and more

August 15, 2025

From DC is Justice in Aging's weekly roundup of national news and resources about issues impacting older adults. To receive From DC in your inbox as soon as its published, sign up for our mailing list.

Here’s what we’re watching in Washington:

Sign-On Opportunity to Support FY26 Funding for HUD Programs

Congress is in the process of negotiating spending bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, including spending bills for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing programs. Current proposals in the House and Senate include cuts to federal rental assistance that would result in fewer households being served and more people at risk of homelessness. Proposed cuts to the Housing Choice Voucher program, the country’s largest federal rental assistance program, would affect up to an estimated 71,000 older adults age 62 and over.

Organizations can urge Congress to fully fund all HUD housing programs by signing on to this letter by the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Housing Task Force, which Justice in Aging co-chairs.

The deadline for sign-ons is Wednesday, August 28, 2025.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare recently released a new documentary in honor of Social Security’s 90^th anniversary. “Social Security: 90 Years Strong” highlights the history of Social Security and its role as a lifeline for older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. Justice in Aging’s Managing Director of Economic Security, Tracey Gronniger, is featured in the film.

Watch the documentary, and read more about why Social Security is vital to Americans nationwide.

H.R. 1 Will Take Medicaid, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act Coverage from Millions

This week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released final estimates of how many people are expected to become uninsured as a direct result of the budget reconciliation act (H.R. 1) that was signed into law in July.

CBO estimates that 10 million people will become uninsured by 2034, including 7.5 million people who will have Medicaid coverage taken away. CBO estimates Medicaid work requirements will end coverage for 5.3 million people, including many older adults ages 50 to 64 and caregivers. The law’s cuts to Medicaid funding and rollback of eligibility and enrollment rules will also terminate Medicaid coverage and Medicare cost-sharing for people age 65 and older.

The CBO expects that H.R. 1’s restrictions on Medicare eligibility will take coverage from 100,000 lawfully present immigrants who have paid into Medicare for at least a decade. The law also ends Medicaid coverage for another 100,000 lawfully present immigrants and blocks 900,000 lawfully present immigrants from eligibility for premium tax credits in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces.

In addition, CBO previously estimated over 4 million individuals are expected to become uninsured next year because Congress did not extend the enhanced premium tax credits that make Marketplace coverage affordable. When people are shopping for 2026 coverage this fall, they will see a more than 75% out-of-pocket premium cost increase on average. Enrollees with income below $25,000 will see the steepest increases, as well as older adults ages 50 to 64.

Get more information on how H.R. 1 impacts older adults’ access to health and long-term care in Justice in Aging’s new explainer and timeline and webinar recording.