How DOGE and federal cuts are impacting Arizona
Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump and his administration have made sweeping cuts to the federal government in departments from education to health care to weather forecasting.
The so-called Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire adviser Elon Musk, has been leading the charge on slashing funding and staff across agencies. Many of the cuts have been challenged in federal court.
The administration has fired thousands of federal workers, closed Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shuttered entire agencies, deported immigrants, scaled back protections for transgender people and cut funding for health programs.
KJZZ's reporters are covering how these cuts and resulting lawsuits are affecting Arizona, including school funding, potential cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, and more. Read full coverage below.
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Amid public sector and SNAP cuts along with higher gas prices and lessening affordability here, The Show checked in with Carla Vargas Jasa, president and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. -
The declines were felt across the Mountain West. In Idaho, SNAP participation fell nearly 8%. Nevada saw a drop of more than 14%. In Arizona, participation fell by nearly 34%. New Mexico saw a decrease of about 6%, while Wyoming dropped by more than 11%. -
Arizona has now dropped more than 450,000 people from the SNAP program since federal changes went into effect last July. That includes 196,000 children no longer receiving benefits. -
A report from a consumer advocacy organization warns that hundreds of hospitals across the country are at risk of closure or reduced services — including eight in Arizona. -
There’ve been efforts over the years in Arizona to transfer ownership — and control — of federal land to the state. Oftentimes, that’s due at least in part to lawmakers’ not being happy with federal plans for that land. -
Millions rely on this help to pay their bills during extreme cold and heat surges -
After a recent report found that Arizona’s SNAP participation numbers have dropped by roughly 47%, the question is: Why? -
The plan would consolidate research leadership — currently dispersed across the country — in Fort Collins, Colo., while closing laboratories in Montana, Utah and Nevada. -
The study says the Arizona Department of Economic Security shows a 47% decrease — a reduction of more than 400,000, including 180,000 children. Arizona had fewer than 490,000 SNAP recipients as of February.
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Since becoming President Donald Trump’s health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spent a lot of time in Arizona. His latest stop in the Valley came on Wednesday while visiting the Gila River Indian Community.
