JUST IDEAS
SNAP Changes Will Upend State Budgets
SNAP is a lifeline for more than 42 million people, providing food that stabilizes families and strengthens communities, but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025 made seismic changes to the structure of SNAP, shifting costs to states. This analysis maps the impact of OBBBA changes to SNAP on all 50 state budgets, highlighting how much each state’s SNAP costs are expected to rise in the years ahead—both in dollars and as a share of state budgets.
Introducing the People-Centered Digital Benefits Project
Millions of Americans rely on public benefits to meet daily needs, yet outdated delivery systems and unnecessary barriers too often make accessing help a struggle. GCPI’s new People-Centered Digital Benefits Project highlights state innovations and the lessons they offer for creating modern benefit delivery systems that meet people’s needs. In this post, Visiting Fellow Andres Arguello previews the project, which will showcase proven models that are fast, fair, and dignified. We will make the successes visible and replicable, providing practical resources for policymakers, agency leaders, and practitioners.
Building Digital Benefits That Protect Privacy for All
As states move toward digital benefit systems, new opportunities arise, but so do new risks. In this post, Affiliate Scholar Jae June Lee examines the roots of the class differential in privacy, and raises broader concerns about the increasing surveillance that low-income families face—from invasive verification practices to expansive data-sharing systems. He explores why safeguards are critical to preventing a “digital welfare dystopia” and offers insights for practitioners to design and implement digital systems carefully.
Big, Beautiful Paperwork: Dismantling Programs That Help Women Work
Women are working despite the odds, including unequal pay, unpredictable low-wage jobs, and few or no benefits. The recently passed reconciliation law—dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBA) by its backers—adds harsh new work requirements to SNAP and Medicaid. The result? Millions of working women, mothers, single moms, and grandmothers could lose access to food assistance and health coverage—not because they don’t work hard enough, but because of rigid rules that ignore the realities of women’s lives.
The Hidden Costs of Cutting WIC: Risks to Health and Families
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has provided health and nutrition supports to mothers and children for over 50 years. President Trump’s FY26 budget proposal threatens to slash WIC benefits for 6.8 million program participants across the country. This blog post illustrates how cutting WIC benefits will undermine the health and well-being of mothers and children and cost the government more in the long run.
EITC Pre-Certification Would Hurt Millions of Families Without Much Gain
A provision in the Budget Reconciliation package would require precertification for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), delaying refunds and creating audit-like hurdles for millions of low-income families. The change targets those who earn the least, while leaving far larger sources of revenue—like wealthy individuals and corporations—untouched.
The Hidden Cost of HHS Cuts: Why Every Family Should Care
Programs that help families meet their basic needs are part of the fabric that keep communities stable. Massive cuts at the government agency that stands up for kids put that stability at risk. The Administration for Children and Families—the division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that oversees programs such as Head Start, child care subsidies, adoption support, domestic violence prevention, and energy assistance—has lost 40 percent of its staff in just three months. This reflection by a former leader at ACF explores the impact of the recent cuts and makes the case for protecting and investing in children.
Railroads to Rideshare: AANHPI Labor Invisible No More
This AANHPI Heritage Month, we’re shining a light on the long history of AANHPI labor—often essential, too often invisible. From building railroads in the 1800s to driving rideshares today, AANHPI workers have shaped the nation while facing exploitation and erasure. This timeline connects our past to our present to ensure our labor and stories are seen, valued, and remembered.
Stronger Together: Weaving History, Leadership, and Vision for Change
A year ago, I stepped into my role as Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. As I reflect on the past year, I find myself returning to the image of braiding sweetgrass—an Indigenous tradition that symbolizes interconnectedness, care, and reciprocity. Braiding requires three strands: the past, the present, and the future. Over the past year in my work at GCPI, we have woven these strands together to strengthen our work, our relationships, and our impact.
Black Leaders in the Anti-Poverty Movement
For generations, Black leaders have played a pivotal role in advancing economic justice. Their work—often met with resistance—has laid the groundwork for many of the anti-poverty programs that millions rely on today. This blog highlights key Black anti-poverty leader who have fought to address systemic poverty through labor organizing, reproductive justice, and direct action.