(WNY News Now) – In a powerful show of unity, Rochester families, healthcare workers, students, and activists rallied outside the Keating Federal Building, warning that looming federal budget cuts threaten lives, livelihoods, and the future of care in America.
Billionaires. In every state, workers, parents, immigrants, and patients rallied together to expose the devastating impact of the Big Bad Bill—a $4.5 trillion transfer of resources away from families and toward corporate greed.
The law slashes Medicaid, SNAP benefits, childcare, higher education, FEMA, and climate protections while expanding ICE enforcement and handing billions to the ultra-wealthy, that will leave families devastated. Most of the cuts take effect quietly over the next two years—unless the people rise up to stop it.
At Keaton Federal Building, healthcare workers, students, and allies marched, rallied, and shared personal stories about denied care, vanishing programs, and ICE-fueled terror. They used striking visuals—like “These Cuts Bleed and Why Worry? It’s Only The Poor Getting Robbed!”
“Cuts to Medicaid will cause a decrease in the number and quality of services provided which will negatively impact the health, safety, and dignity of nursing home residents. Any decrease in quality of care and services in unimaginable and unacceptable,” said MaryDel Wypych,Chair, Elder Justice Committee of Metro Justice.
“We need our hospitals. We need our nursing homes. We need to provide care to people who need us, but can’t do that without the Medicaid funding! Where would your loved ones go if our hospitals and nursing homes close because of the Medicaid cuts? Cancel the cuts and care for us,” shouted Hari Kadariya, healthcare worker.
“The FACT is that the federal government is bankrupting states like NY because we believe in caring for our children, disabled, and elderly population. We are naive to believe this will not affect all of us. Monroe County alone will see 40,542 individuals lose healthcare, 35,475 will lose Medicaid, and another 5,076 will lose insurance due to rate hikes. SNAP cuts: 34% will be children, 14% will be elderly, and 13% will be disabled. HUD cuts will affect 27,000 individuals receiving assistance. The crisis is real, and our government is willing to sacrifice lives for perceived abuses of the system that is less than 3.2 % of the federal budget for those 3 programs,” said Amy Scaramuzzino, President, Rochester Spinal Association.
“The Big Ugly budget slashes funding for climate science, clean energy, and environmental protections, threatening to accelerate the climate crisis at a moment when urgent action is desperately needed. These cuts would undermine frontline communities, stall renewable energy progress, and give Big Oil and polluters a free pass—putting corporate profit ahead of a livable future,” said Denise Young member of Rochester Third Act.
This action is part of SEIU’s national offensive to put families first—not billionaires. It follows worker-led actions from Medicaid protests to the Justice Journey, where 1199SEIU members went to Louisiana to stand up for immigrant families detained by ICE. We’re building power across the nation to win care, safety, and a voice in the decisions that shape our lives.
Coalition partners joining together in protest today, included: 1199SEIU, SEIU Local 200 United, University of Rochester Graduate Labor Union, United Farm Workers (UFW), DSA Rochester, Indivisible Rochester, Free the People Rochester, 50501, Metro Justice, Elder Justice, Rochester Spinal Association, Third Act and others.
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