During a press conference on April 28, 2025, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, criticized the Republican budget framework for planning significant tax cuts for high-income earners while slashing funding for essential domestic programs.

The GOP budget plan aims to save $880 billion over the next decade, which Democrats warn will lead to drastic cuts in Medicaid, food assistance programs like SNAP, and early education initiatives such as Head Start.

Jeffries emphasized that the Republican agenda would adversely affect vulnerable populations, including children, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, potentially resulting in the closure of hospitals and nursing homes.

He also criticized President Trump for not fulfilling his campaign promise to lower living costs, arguing that the economy is suffering due to Republican policies.

Thousands of Americans have protested against Trump’s policies, particularly in response to mass firings of federal workers and proposed cuts to social services, expressing their outrage at town halls across the country.

In a show of strong opposition, Jeffries participated in a 12-hour sit-in at the Capitol steps, inspired by civil rights icon John Lewis, to protest the Trump and GOP agenda.

He highlighted that this sit-in was a form of civil disobedience against threats to healthcare, reflecting Lewis' legacy of fighting for voting rights and social justice.

Jeffries warned that the Trump administration's legislative agenda could lead to significant harm for Americans, stating, 'People will die.'