As Congress considers sweeping budget cuts that could slash funding for critical social programs, Jewish social service agencies across the country are preparing for the worst—and warning that private philanthropy won’t be enough to fill the gap.
At the forefront of the response is Reuben Rotman, CEO of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA), which represents more than 170 Jewish nonprofits in North America and Israel. In recent weeks, Rotman led dozens of agency executives to Washington, D.C., where they met with over 100 lawmakers to advocate against cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
“Medicare and Medicaid were founded on the belief that government supports the most vulnerable in partnership with nonprofits,” Rotman said. “Now we’re seeing a shift. The federal government wants to reduce its role and shift that burden to the states.”
The concern: state budgets are already overstretched. Jewish agencies fear that if the proposed $230 billion in federal cuts—including to SNAP—move forward, millions of vulnerable Americans, including many served by Jewish agencies, could lose access to food, housing, and health care.
Carl Josehart, CEO of Alexander Jewish Family Service in Houston, estimates it would cost an additional $500,000 annually to replace just the lost SNAP support for their current clients. “It’s just not sustainable,” he said. “Philanthropy can’t fill the gap.”
Jewish agencies have already felt the effects of federal pullbacks. In Michigan, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County lost promised refugee resettlement funds, impacting hundreds of individuals who had already arrived. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, a federal grant for legal aid to Jewish survivors of domestic violence quietly vanished without explanation.
As government leaders debate a federal budget that could include at least $1.5 trillion in cuts, NJHSA is working to mobilize lawmakers and donors alike—arguing that the human cost of reducing safety net programs will be far too high.
“Agencies will be depending on more volunteer donations and more philanthropy,” said Rotman. “But they won’t be able to make up the difference.”