After explaining my motivation for writing this series, I reviewed a number of evangelical statements, declarations, and manifestos spanning more than fifty years: Chicago Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern (1973); Lausanne Covenant (1974); The Manila Manifesto (1989); The Amsterdam Declaration (2000); The Health Of Our Nation (2004); An Evangelical Manifesto (2008); The Capetown Commitment (2010); For the Health Of The Nation 2014; and the Seoul Statement (2024).
Among other issues, they shared a remarkable consistency on one key point: Christians have a responsibility to care for the poor, the vulnerable, and those who lack power through personal commitment and public advocacy.
- "...defend the social and economic rights of the poor and the oppressed."
- "...maldistribution of the nation's wealth and services..."
- "...feed the hungry, care for prisoners, help the disadvantaged and handicapped..."
- "...when our evangelism is linked with concern to alleviate poverty... it reflects the compassion of Christ and may gain an acceptance it would not otherwise receive."
- "We will work for measures that strengthen the economic viability of marriages and families, especially among the poor."
- "God identifies with the poor (Ps. 146:5-9), and says that those who 'are kind to the poor lend to the Lord' (Prov. 19:17), while those who oppress the poor 'show contempt for their Maker' (Prov. 14:31). Jesus said that those who do not care for the needy and the imprisoned will depart eternally from the living God (Matt. 25:31-46). The vulnerable may include not only the poor, but women, children, the aged, persons with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, minorities, the persecuted, and prisoners. God measures societies by how they treat the people at the bottom."
- "The prophetic teaching insists on both a fair legal system (which does not favor either the rich or the poor) and a fair economic system (which does not tolerate perpetual poverty). Though the Bible does not call for economic equality, it condemns gross disparities in opportunity and outcome that cause suffering and perpetuate poverty, and it calls us to work toward equality of opportunity."
- "What we are about is captured not only in books or declarations, but in our care for the poor, the homeless, and the orphaned; our outreach to those in prison; our compassion for the hungry and the victims of disaster..."
- "The Bible tells us that the Lord is loving toward all he has made, upholds the cause of the oppressed, loves the foreigner, feeds the hungry, sustains the fatherless and widow… God holds responsible especially those who are appointed to political or judicial leadership in society, but all God’s people are commanded…to reflect the love and justice of God in practical love and justice for the needy...We embrace the witness of the whole Bible, as it shows us God’s desire both for systemic economic justice and for personal compassion, respect and generosity towards the poor and needy."
- "Just as faith comes by hearing, faith is always accompanied by works. These works promote the common good, prioritise care for the poor and most vulnerable, and advance the cause of justice following the example of our Lord. (Matt 5:16; John 13:35; Eph 2:8-10; Luke 4:18-19)."
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ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE
What has the current administration done on this issue?
DOGE targeted billions in federal Medicaid funds, resulting in withheld payments (such as $1.3 billion deferred from California's In-Home Supportive Services CLASP DOGE Tracker), attempts to roll back expansion, and massive cuts to federal health grants. It slashed over $11 billion nationwide in Health and Human Services grants.
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) had its staff reduced by 40%, cutting into anti-poverty, aging, and disability support programs such as Meals on Wheels.
The Office of Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Policy is being dismantled by RFK Jr.
Hundreds of millions in federal grants for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH)were eliminated, including massive layoffs within CDC disease surveillance and complete elimination of divisions like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
The Trump administration stopped reimbursing insurers for Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), which were specifically designed to lower out-of-pocket deductibles and copayments for low-income enrollees. It is expected that millions will not be able to afford coverage.
The administration’s marketplace rules hiked the out-of-pocket maximums that patients have to pay, disproportionately affecting the sickest and most financially vulnerable enrollees.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) drastically cut the federal budget for ACA navigator programs (which assist people in applying for coverage) and consumer outreach. More than 10 million Americans will lose healthcare insurance coverage through Medicaid over the next decade as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
Speaking of Medicare and Medicaid,
“Despite President Trump saying last week they were going to ‘love and cherish’ Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, House Republicans today released their intent to make devastating cuts of nearly $900 billion — cuts that would decimate health care coverage for millions of Americans and upend the health system we all rely on….the sheer size of the proposed cuts means millions of Americans losing coverage, hospitals and clinics plunged into budget shortfalls, and health care services we all depend on being eliminated. The end result would be disastrous for local economies, especially in rural and working class areas." ("Families USA Statement On House Republicans’ Budget Resolution Signaling Their Intent For Major Medicaid Cuts")
Funding from the National Institute of Health has been called “the lifeblood of the entire US biomedical research enterprise," which is a cornerstone of the US economy. What plans does Trump have for this?
“In 2025, Trump attempted to cut or freeze over $3 billion in previously approved research grants from the nation’s leading science agencies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation. He also asked Congress to cut scientific research by an additional $44 billion (22 percent). The president’s budget request for 2027 again cuts science funding, including to the NIH (13 percent) and NSF (55 percent).”
The reductions at the CDC were so extensive that many public health experts warned they would significantly weaken the nation's ability to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks. I have a friend who used to work for the CDC, so I had some inside looks at the chaos that surrounded the following, as they were caught up in the middle of it.
"Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — roughly one-tenth of the agency’s workforce — are being forced out under the Trump administration’s move to get rid of all probationary employees....Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said many of the probationary-status CDC employees are filling vital roles… “That sort of slash-and-burn approach is what will cause continued disruptions in our understanding of diseases” and disease outbreaks, he said." ("CDC to lose one-tenth of workforce under Trump team probationary job cuts.")
As I am writing this, the hantavirus both been in the news, especially because U.S citizens were impacted. Unfortunately, the NIH ended the work of the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases, which had been conducting a pilot project through the West African Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, which had been addressing the hantavirus.
Alongside the cuts to the research network, the administration proposed eliminating about $750 million in preparedness grants that states rely on for outbreak management and zeroed out funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program. The combination of these budget cuts, leadership turnover at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) has severely hampered our ability to respond to and coordinate on the hantavirus outbreak.
After DOGE directed the VA to cancel hundreds of healthcare support contracts and lay off over 2,400 VA staffers, the administration proposed cutting $35 billion in support offered to veterans caring for dependent children, as well as cutting $1.8 billion in funding for children’s health initiatives at the National Institutes of Health, including childhood cancer initiatives and environmental health research.
Disability determination for SSA is a complex process requiring copious documentation. As of February 2025, the process averaged 236 days for decisions issued in the initial stage and 277 days for cases that were appealed. Over a million people are waiting on an appeal, with tens of thousands dying while awaiting a decision. What did DOGE do? Cut Social Security staff by 7,000 workers—12% of the workforce. Even before the DOGE cuts, staffing at the agency was at a 50-year low.
RFK Jr. and Mehmet Oz are targeting Medicaid waiver programs that pay family caregivers between $13 and $15 an hour in roughly a dozen states. Losing waiver payments erases Social Security earnings credits, and this could permanently cut a caregiver's retirement benefit by somewhere between $150 and $250 a month for the rest of their life. Without waiver income, cash-strapped caregivers risk claiming Social Security at 62, permanently shrinking their benefit by about 30%.Meanwhile, under RFK Jr’s leadership, measles is setting record-breaking numbers again. As of late June, the CDC confirmed 2,134 cases, putting 2026 on track to exceed last year’s record. The United States' measles elimination status is currently under official review.
On April 30, 2026, Reynolds American donated $5 million to MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Donald Trump. Shortly after, Reynolds executives and lobbyists had lunch with Trump in Florida to press for the easing of FDA vaping regulations. Following the lunch, President Trump upbraided then-FDA Commissioner Marty Makary for stalling approvals for mango, blueberry, and menthol vapes, expressing a desire to capture young adult voters and support domestic vape manufacturers.
DOGE cancelled roughly $400 millions in AmeriCorps grants that previously funded local community service, social service, and health programs, all of which would help those in economic need.AFFORDABLE HOUSING/SHELTER
More than 11 million Americans pay more than half their salaries for rent. On average, there are 28-35 adequate/affordable housing options for every 100 extremely low-income households. It doesn't help that the purchasing power of the dollar has been dropping for a long time.
President Trump’s proposed 2027 budget includes a 13% cut ($10.7 billion) to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as $10.688 billion for children from Tenant-Based Housing Assistance. The administration is attempting to completely eliminate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs. Localities rely heavily on these funds to build affordable housing and revitalize low-income neighborhoods.
"The Trump administration has directed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to eliminate 50% of its workforce, a move that could severely impact fair housing enforcement, housing market research, and disaster recovery efforts…the layoffs will primarily affect HUD offices responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, analyzing housing market data, and funding disaster relief efforts. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which provides mortgage insurance, will be exempt from the job cuts. HUD plays a critical role in providing affordable housing assistance, enforcing fair housing laws, and aiding communities after natural disasters. By targeting the offices responsible for civil rights and disaster relief, these cuts could disproportionately impact low-income families, marginalized communities, and areas still recovering from past disasters." ("Trump Administration Orders HUD to Cut 50% of Workforce, Targeting Civil Rights and Disaster Recovery Offices.")
This places roughly 3.7 million people – over half of whom are children - at risk of losing assistance.
They have also proposed an $805 million cut in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The Housing First policy at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was a long-standing federal approach that prioritized providing permanent, unconditional housing to individuals experiencing homelessness. It provided housing without prerequisites such as sobriety, treatment, or employment requirements, pairing it with voluntary supportive services. HUD has removed housing first policies from their website; Trump signed an executive order "ending support for housing first policies."
FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAMS
Over 22,000 Americans die from malnutrition each year, which is not only remarkably sad but also discouragingly bad in relation to the rest of the world. What has the current administration done?
"The USDA, facing cuts from the White House, announced that tons of food and tens of millions of dollars won't be coming to Michigan. Feeding America, one of the larger agencies impacted, explained, 'We oppose efforts to cut resources to these vitally needed programs. We also advocate for tax policies that strengthen charitable giving incentives, policies to encourage the donation of surplus wholesome food, and tax incentives...that help lift working families out of poverty.'" ("Northern Michigan food banks brace for impact amid federal funding cuts.")
It’s bigger than just Michigan, of course. Think of Michigan multiplied by 50.
"So far, the USDA has cut more than $1 billion in assistance by ending two pandemic-era programs — $421 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which enabled states to buy food from farmers and give it to groups that help communities in need, and $660 million for Local Food for Schools, which allowed states to buy food for schools and child care facilities. In addition, it halted $500 million in deliveries to food banks via the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation pending a review, the agency told CNN. The impact is being felt across the country, challenging food banks already struggling to meet higher demand, with hunger rates increasing in recent years amid inflation and the end of pandemic-era assistance programs. In 2023, 13.5% of Americans said they struggled with food insecurity — the highest rate in nearly a decade. ("BREAKING NEWS: USDA Cuts Hit Food Banks Across the Country: ‘This Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg.")
"The layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services slashed the staffs of major federal aging, disability and anti-poverty programs, leaving the future of those programs uncertain. At least 40% of staff got layoff notices and many were turned away at the front door Tuesday when they showed up for work at the Administration for Community Living, or ACL, which coordinates federal policy on aging and disability. That's according to the agency's former director under the Biden administration, Alison Barkoff, who says she talked to multiple members of her former staff. The agency funds programs that run senior centers and distribute 216 million meals a year to older and disabled people through the Meals on Wheels program." ("HHS layoffs hit Meals on Wheels and other services for seniors and disabled.")
"The Agriculture Department has axed two programs that gave schools and food banks money to buy food from local farms and ranchers, halting more than $1 billion in federal spending. Roughly $660 million that schools and child care facilities were counting on to purchase food from nearby farms through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program in 2025 has been canceled, according to the School Nutrition Association." ("USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks.")
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal option that allows high-poverty schools and districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students when a certain percentage of families that are part of poverty-focused federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. That percentage is currently set at 25%, but the House Ways and Means Committee has proposed raising it to 60%. This change would leave an estimated 12 million students cut out of the program.
"Nearly one year after the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), close to 5 million fewer Americans received federal food assistance in March when compared with the previous year...significant cuts to social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid...are projected to boot as many as 22.3 million Americans off of SNAP over a decade, and “at least” 10.5 million off of Medicaid by 2034." ("Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is leaving low-income Americans starving: 'I weigh 102 pounds')
I volunteer at a food pantry. We, like others, are watching the lines get longer.JUST LABOR LAWS
The Department of Labor (DOL) introduced sweeping regulatory packages targeting over 60 rule changes, which include proposals to exempt millions of home health and child care workers from federal minimum wage and overtime protections.
The administration has reclassified tens of thousands of career federal civil service employees, stripping them of job protections to make it easier to fire those deemed unaligned with executive priorities.
The Century Foundation gives a grim but honest overview:
“These actions would put the lives of workers across the economy at risk, deprive millions more of minimum wage and overtime protections, and sanction discrimination against workers of color, women, and workers with disabilities. At a time of rising prices, increased economic anxiety, and heightened dangers from climate change, the DOL should be doubling down on its mandate to protect and empower workers. Instead, the Trump administration is making workers more vulnerable to abuse and less safe on the job."
In1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11246, which prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin by those organizations receiving federal contracts and subcontracts. In 1967, he amended it to include sex on the list of attributes. It has been in place for almost 60 years. On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump revoked it.
JUST EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONS
DOGE proposed cutting $26.445 billion in education funding for K-12 students, as well as $12.272 billion in funding for Head Start and Early Head Start, as well as $8.746 billion from the Child Care and Development Block Grant.
The Trump administration sharply curtailed civil rights enforcement in schools by drastically downsizing the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), bypassing standard protocols to dismiss complaints, and abandoning legal defenses of its own anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. The OCR reached resolution agreements in just 1% of its pending civil rights cases, marking a 12-year low in meaningful relief for students facing sexual harassment, racial harassment, and discriminatory discipline.
In September 2025, the Department of Education announced it would end $350 million in discretionary grant funding for programs serving Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian students.
The U.S. Department of Education canceled $168 million in grants to low-income schools and eliminated core special education contracts.
The Trump administration is implementing new "gainful employment" rules that cut off access to federal student loans for degree and certificate programs whose graduates earn less than a typical high school graduate. These changes are currently facing legal challenges from a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia, who argue that capping and removing access to these loans will disproportionately harm students entering public service, health care, social work, trade schools, and religious fields.
Trump has effectively rescind the Equity in IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) regulations by laying off the entire Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which ensures that states are complying with IDEA regulations.
The Department of Education canceled nine GEAR Up grants at more than 200 public schools "because of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at those schools". The impact on thousands of disadvantaged students is profound.
The largest overhaul of the student loans system in a generation started on July 1. The average borrower holding a college degree will pay more than $4,000 a year more under the new setup. The 7 million people enrolled have to pick one of two new plans; the option that is an income-based repayment plan is called the Repayment Assistance Plan. There were similar income-based options before; now, expect repayment rates to triple.
"Student borrower advocacy groups... worry that the payment increases will only make it harder on people already grappling with a surge in inflation, rising energy and food costs, and affordability gaps in housing and healthcare. They also warn it may drive some low-income and first-generation students to the private lending market, where they may face higher interest rates and have fewer protections against predatory lenders. Or, advocates fear, those students may forgo higher education altogether, affecting their economic mobility and competitiveness." ("Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is bringing a big set of student loan changes.")
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Reasonable Christians will disagree about tax rates, spending levels, regulatory structures, and the proper role of government. [1] They always have. But the poor are not optional. The sick are not expendable. The hungry are not irrelevant.If historic evangelical statements were serious when they spoke of protecting the poor, reducing barriers to opportunity, and advocating for structural reforms that help vulnerable people flourish, then those commitments should shape how we evaluate public policy today.
We should be helping to build a fair economic system that does not tolerate perpetual poverty, one that condemns gross disparities in opportunity and outcome that keep people trapped in cycles of need
This would mean advocating for just, effective government programs and structural changes - not one that guarantees equal outcomes, but one that strives for equality of opportunity and looks out for those who are falling between the cracks.
If a policy predictably increases hunger, reduces access to health care, weakens educational opportunities, or makes housing less attainable for struggling families, Christians should at least be willing to ask hard questions about whether it reflects our stated values.
Unfortunately, programs like Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance, public health initiatives, and international humanitarian aid are frequently dismissed as wasteful, socialist, or undeserved, even though historic evangelical statements repeatedly emphasized publicly funded care for the poor as a biblical obligation rather than a partisan preference.
When I compare the evangelicalism that formed me with the movement that now carries the name, the difference feels impossible to ignore. The silence is deafening. "This is what I voted for!" - a line I have heard voiced so many times - breaks my heart.
UP NEXT: The Shift On Racism And Discrimination
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[1] I understand the argument that many of these cuts were meant to address waste and fraud. If that were overwhelmingly true, I would be sympathetic. The reality is that a lot of innocent people have been hurt by the use of a chainsaw when a scalpel was all that was needed. For example, confirmed fraud in the Social Security system is exceedingly rare, accounting for only about $88 million to $100 million annually out of roughly $1.6 trillion in yearly benefit payouts. That is a really small percentage. Check out Wikipedia's page on Medicare fraud. It's not private individuals that are the problem, yet they are getting hurt by the cutbacks.
Cutting out fraud is a wonderful idea - if it helps get the funds to those who are missing it because of the fraud. SNAP provided $95.7 billion in benefits to American families during fiscal year 2025. Fraud drains somewhere between 1% and 4%. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, in a June 25 House subcommittee hearing on "Combating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in SNAP, said, "Every dollar in this program is intended to help feed eligible individuals in need."
The budget is not the problem. The intended recipients are not the problem. The fraud is.
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