The recent approval of a federal spending bill, which includes substantial cuts to Medicaid and food-assistance programs, is poised to exacerbate challenges for some of Arlington’s most vulnerable residents.
County officials, healthcare workers, and nonprofit organizations are currently assessing just how these cuts will affect the local community.
The measures approved by legislators signal a potential $1 trillion reduction in Medicaid funding and a $186 billion decrease in spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade.
As of fiscal year 2024, Arlington County had 29,307 Medicaid recipients, including approximately 8,000 benefiting from Medicaid Expansion.
Additionally, around 10,000 residents in Arlington rely on SNAP for food assistance, based on data collected by the county last June.
While nonprofits such as the Arlington Free Clinic and the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) work to bridge gaps in the social safety net, experts caution that the anticipated impacts of the new spending bill may overwhelm these organizations.
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis expressed his concern, stating that the county is actively monitoring the implementation of this legislation to better understand its repercussions.
“It is too soon to fully grasp all the potential impacts the federal budget reconciliation bill will have on Arlington County, but the Board is deeply concerned that the legislation will have devastating effects on our residents and our community,” he remarked.
The Cuts to Medicaid: A Local Perspective
To prepare for potential shortfalls in federal funding, the Arlington County Board has raised the county’s stabilization fund by $11.5 million this fiscal year.
This fund, meant to cushion the impact of significant federal funding drops, now totals $33 million.
However, Arlington remains heavily dependent on federal resources for various programs, ranging from housing vouchers to educational services.
The county currently utilizes over $40 million annually in federal human services funding—a significant portion of which is now jeopardized.
Brian Marroquin, chair of the county’s Social Services Advisory Board, expressed particular concern over the potential reduction of Medicaid Expansion benefits, which cater to adults aged 19-64 whose income falls below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level.
He pointed out that the majority of those on Medicaid Expansion are employed, challenging the stereotype that equates poverty with unemployment.
Marroquin noted, “There are more than 8,000 Arlington residents who are on Medicaid Expansion.
Due to the high cost of living and low wages in our area, these individuals make less than $21,000 for single persons and $44,000 for a family of four.
When someone loses their Medicaid coverage, they often delay necessary medical care, go to work while ill, and rely on over-the-counter medications to manage chronic conditions.
Ultimately, this could result in emergency room visits, potentially leading to significant medical debt and long-lasting damage to their credit scores.”
The current state of Medicaid coverage in Arlington is relatively low compared to other counties in Virginia, with only about 12% of residents enrolled—making it the fourth-lowest rate in the state as of 2023.
Marroquin cautioned that further changes may leave more Arlington residents without safety net services.
For instance, the Arlington Free Clinic, which serves uninsured low-income residents, assisted only 1,500 people in 2024—a figure significantly lower than those currently covered by Medicaid Expansion.
Lesley Daigle, CEO of the Arlington Free Clinic, acknowledged the organization’s critical role as a last resort healthcare option.
“Whatever the cause, factors that lead to a loss of coverage impact all of us and are a clear reminder of AFC’s importance as the healthcare safety net option of last resort,” she stated.
Hospital System Implications
Julian Walker, vice president of communications for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, expressed deep concern regarding the cuts highlighted in the budget plan.
He specifically referenced the Senate’s version of the bill, which the House ultimately approved.
“These cuts jeopardize the stability and survival of hospitals, posing real harm to access to care for hundreds of thousands of Virginians,” Walker said.
He emphasized that the legislation could cost Virginia hospitals over $2 billion annually in crucial funding, which is essential for sustaining operations, supporting community employment, and providing necessary care for residents.
According to Walker, the financial strain may force rural hospitals to close and prompt other facilities to cut services or reduce staffing levels.
SNAP Cuts and Impact on Food Assistance
The cuts to Medicaid are not the only issue; food assistance through SNAP is also facing significant reductions.
Marroquin stressed that decreases in key programs like Medicaid and SNAP create intense pressures on local nonprofits like AFAC, the largest food pantry in Arlington.
“Increasing instability in household budgets heightens demand for services from both Arlington’s Department of Human Services and local nonprofits, which are already grappling with their own financial hurdles due to both direct cuts and reduced contributions from affected donors,” Marroquin shared.
AFAC’s CEO, Charlie Meng, anticipated a surge in demand for their services as a result of these cuts.
“A reduction in SNAP means that families will be coming to us more often,” Meng explained, “and unfortunately, it also means that the food we provide may not suffice over the long term.”
The Arlington Food Assistance Center has already witnessed record-high referral rates, serving roughly 4,000 families each week, with projections suggesting this figure could rise to 5,400 by November.
In response to rising demand, the County Board authorized an additional $750,000 in one-time funding for AFAC last year, reflecting the urgent need for support.
“While I’m not privy to their plans, I am aware of the serious contemplation regarding these issues, and I trust that they’ll include organizations like AFAC in their considerations,” Meng commented.
AFAC is facing financial strains due to overspending its food budget by $1.2 million last year to accommodate the rising demands for assistance.
In an email to supporters, Meng noted the challenge of continuing services amidst a budget deficit.
“Maintaining this level of service in the year ahead will be a challenge,” he wrote. “With this new year starting off with a budget deficit, meeting the inevitable increase in demand for food assistance will be very difficult without further support.”
The county’s FY 2026 budget contributes less than 10% to AFAC’s overall budget, in addition to providing $105,000 for Meals on Wheels and $150,000 in one-time funding for Food Security Mini-Grants that will benefit multiple local nonprofits.
Cascading Issues Amid Job Market Fluctuations
Marroquin raised additional concerns that the Medicaid and SNAP cuts could intersect with unemployment rates affecting many Federal employees laid off earlier this year.
“The job market does not provide jobs with consistent, reliable hours and benefits like it used to,” he noted, adding that tougher bureaucratic reporting requirements could lead many people currently in precarious employment situations to lose health insurance.
He warned of the adverse health outcomes that are likely to follow.
“Once they do get sick, rather than managing illness through primary care, they will need to go to emergency rooms—resulting in poorer health for individuals and increased wait times and costs for everyone,” he explained.
Marroquin emphasized that free clinics and charity care cannot adequately fill the growing gap.
Frustrated by the impending changes, he lamented that the cuts to Medicaid could reverse hard-won progress in decreasing the uninsured rate across Virginia.
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