Bracing for Impact: How Federal Budget Cuts Threaten Wyandotte’s Health—and What We Can Do.

Justice for Wyandotte proposes increasing the allocation to community services in Wyandotte County's general budget to a Healthy 33% to safeguard our county's public health in the midst of federal cuts.

In a move that has sparked concern across the country, the U.S. Senate has passed the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill"—a sweeping piece of legislation that claims to simplify the federal budget but, in reality, slashes essential programs that our communities depend on. For Wyandotte County, the implications are immediate and severe.

What’s In the Bill—and Why We Should Be Alarmed

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill guts funding for Medicaid, community health centers, food assistance programs, and public health infrastructure. These are not luxuries for our community—they are lifelines. In Wyandotte County, where rates of chronic illness are high and access to quality care is already uneven, this bill threatens to pull the rug out from under working families, seniors, and those living on the edge of poverty.

Local clinics, preventative health programs, and behavioral health services all stand to lose critical funding. And as state and federal dollars disappear, the burden will shift to counties like ours, which already struggle to meet rising healthcare demands with limited resources.

Why A Healthy 33% Matters Now More Than Ever

That’s why A Healthy 33% is more than just a campaign—it’s a necessary lifeline. This community-led proposal calls on Wyandotte County leaders to allocate at least 33% of our county’s budget toward health-related and community services. It's a bold yet practical solution designed to fill the gaps left by federal disinvestment and ensure that our county doesn’t go backward.

A Healthy 33% could fund:

• Expanded mental and behavioral health services

• Mobile clinics and preventative care programs

• Health navigators to help families access services

• Crime prevention programs

• Support for community-based organizations doing frontline health work

The Real Cost of Inaction

Without local investment, we risk watching our healthcare safety net unravel. Residents could face longer waits, fewer services, and greater barriers to care. More families may fall through the cracks—and disparities in health outcomes, especially among Black and Brown communities, will only deepen.

But there’s another path.

By embracing A Healthy 33%, Wyandotte County can protect itself from the damage of federal cuts. We can choose to invest in people over politics, in wellness over neglect, and in equity over austerity.

Join Us

Justice for Wyandotte is calling on residents, advocates, and elected officials to support the Healthy 33% proposal. We need leadership that prioritizes people’s health, and we need it now. As Washington plays games with our futures, Wyandotte County must take matters into its own hands.

Together, we can ensure that every resident—regardless of income, background, or ZIP code—has access to the healthcare they deserve.

To learn more about A Healthy 33% or to get involved, visit www.justiceforwyandotte.org/Healthy33