Advocates for low-income and disabled Tennesseans are warning that President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” could devastate the state’s most vulnerable residents through massive cuts to federal safety net programs.
The legislation, passed by House Republicans, proposes $600 billion in Medicaid cuts and $300 billion in SNAP reductions over the next decade. In Tennessee, this threatens TennCare coverage for 1.4 million people and food assistance for more than 700,000.
“These cuts would drive families deeper into hunger,” warned Jeannine Carpenter of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which provided 17 million meals last year. “SNAP provides eight meals for every one we offer.”
Work requirements and stricter paperwork rules are expected to disqualify thousands, particularly in a state where most Medicaid recipients are children, seniors, or disabled. An audit previously showed 95% of children removed from TennCare were wrongly disqualified.
Despite claims the bill roots out “waste,” analysis shows 92 counties would lose far more in SNAP funding than they gain in farm subsidies—disproportionately benefiting large agribusinesses over families.
Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty have not commented on the pending legislation.
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