From DC: Urge Congress to Lower Health Care Costs, New Report on Plans to Cut SSDI and SSI, and more

October 17, 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:

Urge Congress to Lower Health Care Costs

The federal government remains shut down as Congress remains at a partisan impasse on key issues, including the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs).

The ePTCs are set to expire at the end of this year, but consumers will experience the premium sticker shock when the Marketplace open enrollment period begins November 1. The ePTCS have provided many low-income older adults access to $0 premium plans.

As AARP reports, 92% of older adults ages 50 to 64 enrolled in Marketplace coverage are projected to see higher premiums in 2026 if the ePTCs are not extended.

Use this toolkit from Families USA and Community Catalyst to urge Congress to make ePTCs permanent and reverse cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.

New Report on Trump Administration’s Plans to Cut SSDI and SSI

A new blog from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) further analyzes the Trump Administration’s expected proposed rule to change the disability determination process for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. According to CBPP, the proposal would be the largest-ever cut to SSDI, and the rule would change the eligibility criteria for older applicants and hurt older workers in particular.

The proposal would also disproportionately harm people living in the South and Appalachia, areas which have a higher share of people receiving disability benefits. The CBPP analysis builds on the increasing body of research on the proposed rule’s impact, including the Urban Institute report released last month.

Justice in Aging will continue to monitor this issue and update our network about the future proposed rule.

USDA Gives States Until November 1 to Implement Harmful SNAP Cuts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released a memo announcing that states would have until November 1 of this year to implement some of the harmful cuts to SNAP food assistance under the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1).

These cuts include an expansion of harsh work requirements and time limits for adults up to age 65, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care.

Food insecurity is expected to increase in the coming years due to H.R. 1, which slashes funding for SNAP food assistance by billions of dollars. These massive funding cuts will affect 40 million low-income people – including 8 million older adults – who rely on SNAP to afford basic groceries.