Assemblymember Steven Raga Slams Trump’s Budget Proposal, Citing Harm to New York Families

New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga, the first Filipino American elected to the state legislature, has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s proposed budget plan—dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”—for what he describes as “reckless” cuts to essential services that millions of New Yorkers rely on.

Raga, who represents parts of Queens, said the federal proposal would dramatically slash funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), disproportionately affecting seniors, low-income families, and vulnerable communities across the state.

“Each year, New Yorkers send billions of dollars in federal taxes,” Raga stated. “Yet the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ offers nothing in return but devastating cuts to healthcare and food assistance.”

The budget proposal reportedly includes a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and a $300 million reduction in SNAP funding—measures Raga called “dangerous and inhumane.”

“Rather than ensuring our seniors and working-class families have access to quality healthcare, President Trump is choosing to strip away critical funding that literally saves lives,” Raga said. “Instead of making sure children and families have enough to eat each day, he chooses to take food off their tables.”

As a longtime community advocate, Raga emphasized that his district office regularly sees the impact of delayed or denied public benefits, especially among immigrant families, single parents, and elderly residents.

“These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—these are real people,” he added. “When these benefits are disrupted, lives are disrupted.”

The Assemblymember urged federal leaders to invest in public health, food security, and support systems for working families rather than catering to “the ultra-wealthy.”

“At the end of the day, New Yorkers deserve an administration that centers their health, their access to food, and their dignity,” Raga said. “Not one that turns its back on them.”

Raga’s remarks come amid growing concern among advocacy groups and state officials that a federal rollback of social safety net programs could exacerbate poverty, widen inequality, and place increased strain on local and state resources.