The Deadly, Dangerous Bill: Physicians for Social Responsibility Responds to Budget Reconciliation Passage July 3, 2025

PSR condemns Congress for passing the vile and dangerous budget reconciliation bill — advancing it to inevitable passage by the President. This bill will harm the health of every American — but especially our most vulnerable. The federal government is stealing healthcare and food assistance from tens of millions of people who need it the most, tearing apart families by targeting immigrants (regardless of status), raising energy bills in the midst of an affordability crisis, and ensuring people will die without access to lifesaving resources. In the process, they will steal any wealth that the working class has strived so hard to achieve and give tax breaks to a handful of billionaires, who need it the least.

We live in anxious times, with challenges that strain our spirits, including the impacts of climate change and the ever present threat of nuclear war. America needs bold leadership, but instead of improving society for all of us, Congress chose to double down and put us even more directly in harm’s way despite public outcry from every corner of the country. This unrepresentative style of governance is not sustainable and will not last. Our health and wellbeing is the thread that connects us all and we must not let the bleak and biased vision of the President and his co-conspirators take hold as we move forward and fight back. As health professionals, it is not only in the best interest of our patients and clients but also our duty to ensure that our government is doing everything it can to keep Americans safe and healthy. At a time when our leaders are doing everything in their power to do the exact opposite, it is imperative that we speak up.

“Senator Warnock of Georgia reminded us a few days ago that budgets are moral documents. We now know where our Members of Congress’ moral compass is pointing. While we are grateful to those who made amendments to blunt its impacts and who voted no on the final bill we are deeply disappointed in those Representatives and Senators who prioritize billionaire tax cuts, military waste and a highly armed abusive federal police force (ICE) over access to health care, access to food, breathable clean air, and a livable climate for all Americans. Shame on them. We at Physicians for Social Responsibility are NOT giving up and will continue to use every tool at our disposal to reverse this awful legislative act.”

– Mark Vossler, MD, PSR Board President

“Today’s passage of the budget reconciliation package has revealed what many of us have long known; that health outcomes are not at the center of decision making. This bill can serve to deepen inequities in class, health, and environmental protection, leaving our most vulnerable communities and tens of millions of people without lifesaving resources like healthcare, and deepen food insecurity and generational injustice. These factors are then further compounded by climate change and environmental injustice. There is no doubt that this could result in countless lives lost, and that is unacceptable because it was preventable. We will continue to raise our voice as health professionals to stop the avoidable damage affecting our health and wellbeing.”

– Natasha DeJarnett, PhD, MPH, BCES, PSR Board Member