‘We must fight:’ NAACP voices opposition over proposed Medicaid and SNAP cuts, Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis branch of the NAACP held a press conference Wednesday morning expressing concerns over the proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP, urged residents to call their senators and tell them to vote against the budget cuts that are proposed within President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’

Sweet-Love said she’s sounding the alarm on the proposed cuts.

“Ask your senators to vote against it, the spending cuts to Medicaid and SNAP,” said Sweet-Love. “That would cripple these programs and bring devastation.”

Kermit Moore, president of the NAACP Memphis Branch, echoed similar sentiments to Sweet-Love.

“This is not a Republican or a Democratic issue. This is a people issue, and we must fight to the end,” said Moore.

Sweet-Love said the cuts would increase food insecurity and put rural hospitals at risk of closing their doors. She said many of those hospitals are already struggling to keep their doors open, and families in the area are facing challenges every day to put food on the table.

“Nearly 1.5 million Tennesseans are on Medicaid for health coverage. This includes one-half of all the children in our state,” said Sweet-Love. “Cuts to SNAP would increase food insecurity across the state, leaving schools, food banks, and local government to fill the gap.”

During the press conference, Jessica Peggs, the Memphis ambassador for the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition, shared her personal story and how the cuts would impact her family.

“I have a twelve-year-old son, Isaiah, he has multiple disabilities. Even though I work full time, we rely on his Katie Beckett Medicaid Waiver to cover his medical expenses that I would not be able to afford,” said Peggs.

Peggs said being a caregiver is a choice, and one made out of love.

“Caregiving is the invisible health care system holding our health care system together, and it is under attack. Family caregiving is a non-stop job with no sick days, no holidays, and no overtime,” said Peggs.

Peggs said that, as the bill stands, able-bodied Americans would be required to work.

“Nearly 30% of Medicaid enrollees, age 19-64, are not working, but 12% of them are not working because they are caregivers,” said Peggs.

Peggs said instead of cutting the budget for Medicaid, more money should be invested to help provide healthier lives for families and better support for caregivers.

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ passed the U.S. House on May 22 with a 215-214 vote.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would cut $267 billion in federal spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The bill is currently waiting for a vote by the Senate.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.

Copyright 2025 WMC. All rights reserved.