Former President Barack Obama harshly criticised the tax plan promoted by Donald Trump and approved by Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday, warning that it puts the most vulnerable citizens of the United States at risk.
Through his account on X, formerly Twitter, Obama warned that the measures included in the mega-legislative project would deprive millions of people of access to medical treatments and services essential for their survival.
“The most vulnerable Americans – families, the elderly, folks with disabilities – won’t be able to get the lifesaving treatment, medication, or care they need,” the former president wrote.
His remarks came just hours after House Republicans successfully unblocked negotiations and approved an initiative that critics have called a public health risk.
Tax reform still needs approval
The fiscal plan, which includes massive social spending cuts and tax breaks for high-income groups, must now pass muster in the Senate, where conservatives also hold a narrow majority.
Donald Trump, the main proponent of the measure, wants the legislation fully passed by July 4th, Independence Day, in order to consolidate his economic agenda ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.
Obama, for his part, called for citizen action and urged the public to contact their representatives in the Senate to stop the bill from advancing.
“I urge everyone to contact their senators and make them aware of how much this bill would affect millions of working families,” the former president said.
Trump’s tax plan puts public health at risk
The proposal includes, among other things, reducing federal funding for Medicaid, the healthcare program for low-income people, and eliminating tax credits that facilitate access to health insurance.
Furthermore, it would increase coverage costs for millions of middle-class families and self-employed workers, health policy experts have warned.
An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), cited by The Washington Post, estimates that the bill would entail nearly $500 billion in cuts to the Medicare program starting in 2026.
The initiative is also estimated to add $2.3 trillion to the accumulated fiscal deficit over the next decade, contradicting Republican arguments that the plan will improve the country’s economic sustainability.
Trump plan jeopardises Obamacare gains
During his presidency, Barack Obama expanded access to healthcare by passing the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as “Obamacare.”
That reform allowed millions of uninsured Americans to access affordable health coverage, especially in underserved and rural communities.
Since then, many of these achievements have come under attack from the Republican Party, which believes the public health system represents an excessive financial burden on the state.
Under the new plan, the gains made during the Obama era would be jeopardised, especially with regard to equity in access to healthcare and the protection of vulnerable populations.