Federal Policy
Census Reports 2025 Poverty Rate at Historic Low Amid Warnings of Medicaid, SNAP Cuts
The U.S. Census Bureau reported the 2025 official poverty rate fell to 10.2%, a historic low, while the supplemental poverty rate held steady at 13.1%. Median household income rose 2.6% to $87,460. Experts cautioned the data does not reflect 2026 federal policy changes, including major Medicaid and SNAP cuts enacted through last year's tax and spending legislation. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 15 million people will lose health coverage by 2034, and SNAP enrollment for children already dropped 1.2 million between July 2025 and July 2026.
Why it mattersMedicaid cuts enacted in 2026 are expected to sharply increase uninsurance and poverty rates in next year's census data, with CBO projecting 15 million newly uninsured by 2034 — creating coverage gaps and cost-shifting pressure for states and health plans.