“By suggesting cuts that would rob a million older adults of nutrition services, deny thousands of seniors access to paid work opportunities, and put seniors across the country at risk of homelessness, the Republican proposal shows that they are willing to turn their backs on this vulnerable portion of our population at a time when they need the support the most,” a March 23 press release from Appropriations Democrats says.

Contemplated House cuts to domestic discretionary programs in fiscal year 2024 would equate to a “five-alarm fire” for older adults, the White House said on March 23. Individual departmental assessments, requested and received by House Committee on Appropriation Democrats, describe how the House Freedom Caucus’s suggested cuts would impact programs.

The White House assessment takes a cross-department view of the discussed cuts’ impact on older adults and says the suggested cuts would worsen Social Security and Medicare wait times, rob seniors of healthy meals, cut housing for seniors, and reduce other vital services for older adults.