CJC Opposes New Budget Bill That Undermines Equity in Workforce Systems

Today, Congress passed a budget bill that signals a devastating shift away from the values of equity, opportunity, and shared prosperity.

The bill will deepen the racial and economic divides that already hinder too many people’s ability to thrive, particularly communities of color, immigrant communities, and those living in or near poverty. These cuts will not only dismantle critical support systems but also undermine the workforce infrastructure that helps job seekers connect to sustainable employment and economic mobility.

Among the most harmful provisions are new punitive work requirements for both SNAP and Medicaid recipients. Adults ages 18–64 will now be required to work, volunteer, or participate in training at least 80 hours per month to retain access to benefits. Failure to meet this threshold—even due to administrative hurdles—can result in losing food assistance or healthcare coverage. These rules ignore the complex realities of low-wage, gig, and unstable work and impose unnecessary burdens on individuals who are already working or face barriers to employment.

More than 10 million people are projected to lose Medicaid coverage, and over 1.3 million individuals could lose access to SNAP each month (KFF & CBPP).

Even more concerning, there is no evidence that these mandates lead to higher employment. As the Economic Policy Institute states, “Studies show these work mandates do not significantly increase employment, but do increase administrative hurdles and cause coverage losses” (EPI).

As a workforce intermediary committed to advancing equity and economic justice, Chicago Jobs Council strongly opposes this legislation. We are actively working alongside our members and partners to analyze the implications of these policy changes for our field—and to ensure that those closest to the work and most impacted by these decisions are equipped to advocate, organize, and respond.

This is not the end of the fight.

We remain steadfast in our mission to confront the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing quality employment. In this moment of harmful policymaking, we double down on our commitment to equity and to creating a workforce system that centers people, not politics.