Illinois activist group protests proposed Medicaid work requirements in Rockford

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Activists protesting changes to Medicaid and SNAP benefits contained in President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” gathered outside Rep. Darin LaHood’s (R) Rockford office on Wednesday.

Protesters with Citizen Action Illinois gathered over 2,500 signatures from LaHood’s constituents, advocating against passage of the bill in Congress.

The federal budget bill would place work requirements on able-bodied adults who receive health care through the Medicaid and SNAP benefits programs, potentially causing 8 million people to lose coverage, including 1.4 million noncitizens who would become ineligible.

The new Medicaid requirements would apply to nondisabled adults under age 65 who are not caretakers or parents, with some exceptions. The bill passed by the U.S. House stipulates that those eligible would need to work, take classes, or perform community service for 80 hours per month.

Republicans in Congress have insisted they are not cutting the vital safety net program but simply rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, instead characterizing the changes as rules that would purge people who are taking advantage of the system and protect it for the most vulnerable who need it most.

According to Citizen Action Illinois, nearly 140,000 people in LaHood’s district rely on Medicaid, and nearly 30,000 rely on SNAP.

Earlier this week, similar protests were held outside LaHood’s office in Peoria.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.