How the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' threatens America's veterans

Originally published in Stars and Stripes

At the heart of American identity lies a solemn promise: that those who serve their country in uniform will be honored, protected and supported upon their return. This promise includes care of service members’ wellbeing, for continued duty or after serving to safeguard our nation.

Our Republican Legacy’s principle of peace through strength is predicated upon the support and care of this force who serve. Yet, with the recent enactment of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), this promise is facing a critical test.

The new law cuts much-needed safety net programs (Medicaid and SNAP) for the neediest to supply the wealthy more financial relief — and in doing so, adding $3.4 trillion to the national deficit. Those veterans who require the added safety net of Medicaid and SNAP, who struggle to make ends meet, require added assistance.

According to a 2022 study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, one in four low-income veterans rely on at least one public assistance program, with SNAP and Medicaid being the most prevalent. Over 1.75 million veterans benefit from Medicaid, including 340,000 who do not qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs health coverage. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that as many as 1.2 million veterans depend on SNAP to keep food on their tables. The OBBBA’s new eligibility requirements could push hundreds of thousands off these programs, either through direct cutoffs or bureaucratic hurdles.

Through Medicaid and SNAP the government has woven a critical safety net for veterans — one that helps bridge gaps in health care, sustenance and dignity. The new legislation, however, proposes sweeping cuts and eligibility restrictions that threaten to unravel this safety net. These changes will reverberate through individual lives and entire communities, undermining the very values for which veterans have fought.

The Disabled American Veterans warns that rural or homeless vets may lack access to qualifying work or programs, and that “burdensome eligibility checks … could cause coverage losses or reduced utilization.” These individuals are at heightened risk of losing their Medicaid coverage under the OBBBA’s provisions, which would require them to repeatedly prove their disability status and navigate complex, paperwork-heavy bureaucracies.

Consider the case of a veteran Army specialist, Ben Johnson, who reports, “I have eight ruptured discs in my spine, and I blew out my knees. They’re making it harder for the little guy. This is going to be tough.” Due to chronic pain and insomnia from his injuries, he has difficulty maintaining steady employment. Johnson has been on Medicaid for about five years, because VA or other coverage doesn’t sufficiently meet his needs.

Disabled Army veteran Abbella DiNoto is living on less than $1,300 a month from SNAP and VA benefits. She relies on SNAP to make ends meet. DiNoto notes, “If you lower our SNAP any further, many Americans, such as myself, will be facing starvation and possibly death.”

Beyond the statistics, it’s vital to remember the personal toll. Veterans like Ben and Abbella are not outliers — they are emblematic of a broader community that faces daily uncertainty. Stripping away Medicaid and SNAP support from veterans is not just a policy choice — it is a repudiation of the country’s most sacred commitments.

While the law fails the test of fiscal responsibility, its effort to cut spending hurts exactly those least able to shoulder the burden — veterans who have already paid the price for our freedoms. When a country neglects the welfare of its defenders, it risks not only eroding its moral authority but also its capacity to safeguard peace at home and abroad.

Photo credit: Alex Brandon, Pool Photo, Getty Images/TNS