Trump’s Cuts to Healthcare Have Harmed Healthcare Workers and Pushed Medical Centers to the Brink of Closure Arrow

Under Donald Trump, nurses and healthcare workers are being left behind as Republicans slash healthcare funding, triggering thousands of job cuts and creating a growing healthcare crisis across the country.

Because of Trump and Republicans' "One, Big Beautiful Bill," which cut $1 trillion from Medicaid, tens of thousands of healthcare workers have lost their jobs. One hundred fifty thousand more healthcare jobs are at risk and more than 900 hospitals across all 50 states are on the brink of closure. During his first year in office, Trump also fired almost 3,000 Veterans Affairs (VA) nurses, and eliminated nearly 5,000 nursing job slots from the VA.

The U.S. was already grappling with a nursing shortage. Trump's disastrous healthcare cuts have not only caused job cuts but have also driven nurses and other healthcare workers to leave the U.S. to practice in other countries.

In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:

"Affordable and accessible healthcare is under attack as Donald Trump and Republicans slash healthcare funding to pay for tax cuts for their billionaire friends and donors. Their devastating cuts to healthcare are costing thousands of healthcare jobs, shuttering clinics and lifesaving services, straining hospitals and healthcare facilities, and creating a crisis across the country."

Earlier this year - after Trump met with nursing home executives who eventually donated nearly $5 million to Trump's super PAC - the White House revoked a rule to require increased staffing levels at nursing homes that was meant to reduce neglect among residents. One estimate found the staffing rule could have saved the lives of 13,000 nursing home residents per year.

Just last week, the Trump administration issued new guidance that excludes nursing from what the administration considers a "professional" degree. The decision slashes loan availability for nursing students, and nursing students are now only eligible to borrow less than half of what students pursuing "professional degrees" can borrow. Experts warn that this decision could discourage people from pursuing nursing degrees.