Celebrities and Politicians Unite to Oppose Sweeping SNAP and Medicaid Cuts Proposed in GOP Bill

Washington, D.C. – A high-profile coalition of celebrities and politicians is mounting a forceful campaign against proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, as outlined in the Republican-backed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" currently moving through Congress.

More than 30 entertainment industry figures—including Scarlett Johansson, Matt Damon, Zayn Malik, and Kristin Chenoweth—have signed an open letter urging lawmakers to reject the legislation. The letter, coordinated by the nonprofit Feeding America, warns that the bill would enact some of the largest reductions to SNAP and Medicaid in U.S. history, eliminating 9.5 billion meals annually and pushing hundreds of thousands off Medicaid and into food insecurity. The signatories called these proposed cuts “unacceptable and wrong,” emphasizing that millions of low-income Americans, including children and seniors, rely on these programs for food and health care.

The letter states: “These programs make it possible for [Americans] to live more healthily and with dignity, in turn helping communities across America to thrive.” It urges Congress to “reject cuts to these vital programs that help millions put food on their tables and provide access to health care”.

The political response has been swift and vocal. In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly highlighted that SNAP supports nearly 190,000 residents, including 87,000 children, warning that federal reductions would harm families, farmers, grocers, and the broader economy. Food banks in Ohio and other states have echoed these concerns, stating they would struggle to meet increased demand if SNAP benefits are reduced.

Senate Democrats, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have announced plans to introduce amendments to protect SNAP, Medicaid, rural hospitals, and other safety-net programs during the upcoming vote-a-rama sessions. They have also pledged to oppose tax cuts for the wealthy included in the bill. Meanwhile, some Republicans, such as Senator Katie Britt, maintain that SNAP will remain protected for those in need and accuse Democrats of supporting tax hikes on working families.

The controversy has sparked nationwide protests. On Capitol Hill, dozens of demonstrators—including many in wheelchairs—were arrested after disrupting business inside the Russell Senate Building to protest the proposed Medicaid and SNAP cuts. Activist groups argue that the legislation would sacrifice life-saving programs to fund tax breaks for the wealthy, vowing to continue their fight until the bill is defeated.

As the Senate prepares to vote, the fate of SNAP and Medicaid remains at the center of a heated national debate, with millions of vulnerable Americans awaiting the outcome.