Michelle Del Rosario came out to protest against the cuts to the Medicaid program that will impact thousands of people in California's 40th district, like her son William, an adult with autism and epilepsy.

The women and dozens more gathered with signs, chants, and petitions outside Representative Young Kim's office in Anaheim.

“William depends on this,” Del Rosario said of Medicaid, the state health insurance for low-income people. “His medications, which have kept him seizure-free for the past 12 years, are over $5,000 a month, and he needs to take them daily.”

The mother stressed that skipping or cutting back on his medications would be devastating for him and fears what would happen if Representative Kim votes to cut those benefits that give her son independence, access to life, and employment.

The Medicaid cuts are part of President Trump’s fiscal plan, which includes other priorities such as providing an additional $100 billion for the Armed Services Committee and $90 billion to strengthen the Department of Homeland Security.

For that reason, dozens of people demonstrated against the cuts outside the office of Congresswoman Kim, who is under pressure from her constituents because she has already voted in favor of the fiscal plan, but will have the opportunity to make a change during the budget review.

The United States Senate approved Trump's fiscal and budget plan on Tuesday, which now goes back to the House of Representatives for review and a final vote, with the pressure to send it to the president for his signature this coming Friday, July 4.

Vice President JD Vance facilitated the passage of the rule with the narrowest of majorities (51-50) by issuing the tiebreaker to unblock a marathon voting process of more than 24 hours, which evidenced the fissures within the Republican Party regarding this budget plan.

Melody Mendenhall, an oncology nurse practitioner for over 18 years and representing the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United,shared that the budget cuts will have an impact on the community’s health.

“If [the budget] is implemented, 13.7 million people will lose their health insurance,” the nurse said. “Millions of patients will be forced to delay seeking urgent care when they are sicker or, worst-case scenario, when it’s too late and they die.”

Additionally, Mendenhall shared that Rep. Kim indicated she will fight the cuts, but voted for the reconciliation bill in the House of Representatives in May.

“Rep. Kim, we are here to ask you not to give up…. we have seen you do the right thing, and we need you to stand up for us now more than ever,” the nurse said. “Do you want to support billionaire donors or support the patients and loved ones we care for every day?”

Cynthia Williams spoke in front of dozens of protesters in support of nurses and against Medicaid cuts.

She shared that her sister, a veteran, was just notified that her transportation, which is funded through Medicaid, has been cut.

“My family is not alone; all over California and across the country, we hear the same painful stories,” Williams said. “People with disabilities are being denied health coverage and healthcare workers are overwhelmed. This is not good. We rely on our nurses to care for patients, and if they are overworked and don’t have the resources to care for them, what does that look like for the patient? It’s horrible, it’s reckless.”

Emily Escobar, Public Affairs Advocacy Manager for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, said that communities that rely on their basic medical services will be impacted.

“Planned Parenthood saves lives, and we know what happens when they are defunded,” Escobar said. “Cancers go undetected, STIs go untreated, birth control is harder to come by, and communities’ public health infrastructures crumble.

When protesters attempted to enter Congresswoman Kim’s office, a private security officer blocked the entrance.

Representative Kim issued a statement to Spectrum News on Tuesday regarding Medicaid.

“I understand that some of my constituents are concerned, and I know how important Medicaid services are to many in my community,” Kim said. “That’s why I voted to protect and strengthen Medicaid services for our most vulnerable citizens who truly need them.”

Furthermore, Kim stated that she has met with local leaders and her door is open to conversation.

President Trump has maintained that he will not cut Medicare or Medicaid, but is simply seeking to “get the fraud out of there? And everyone wants us to get the fraud out.”

However, experts emphasize that the only way to meet the requirements of the House budget resolution is to cut Medicaid, according to a report by LAist.

Additionally, Alice Burns, associate director of KFF’s Medicaid and Uninsured Program, shared some of the impact of the cuts.

“Cuts to Medicaid spending could mean eliminating coverage for some people, eliminating coverage for high-cost optional benefits like prescription drugs, or reducing payment rates to health plans and providers,” Burns said.