This week at CBPP, we focused on health, food assistance, the federal budget, family income support, and the economy.

• On health, Kyle Hayes explained how the Trump Administration’s new guidance inviting states to apply for Medicaid block grants undermines access to behavioral health care. Jesse Cross-Call described how Michigan is nearing large Medicaid coverage losses due to work requirements. We updated our explainer on the legally suspect lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which threatens loss of coverage for millions.

• On food assistance, Ed Bolen noted that a U.S. district court will hear arguments this week on a lawsuit to block a new Trump Administration rule that would end food assistance for nearly 700,000 low-income Americans.

• On the federal budget, David Reich and Jennifer Beltrán pointed out that the Trump 2021 budget’s deep proposed cuts to programs funded through non-defense appropriations would break with a bipartisan funding agreement.

• On family income support, Ife Floyd suggested boosting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to reduce deep poverty among children. We updated our report and policy brief arguing that cash assistance should reach millions more families. We also updated our fact sheets outlining trends in state TANF-to-poverty ratios.

• On the economy, we updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available and our chart book tracking the post-Great Recession economy.

Chart of the Week — Trump Budget Would Cut Non-Defense Discretionary Spending to Record Low

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:

Food stamp change fuels anxiety as states try to curb impact
Associated Press
March 4, 2020

A short-staffed IRS is trying to reform
Marketplace
March 3, 2020

Here’s what economists say the U.S. and other nations should do to avoid a coronavirus recession
Washington Post
March 3, 2020