"Savaşıyoruz ": Trump, Washington'ın Medicaid, Medicare ve gündüz bakımını finanse edemeyeceğini savunuyor. Maliyetler artmadan şimdi hazırlanın

‘We’re fighting wars’: Trump argues Washington can't fund Medicaid, Medicare and day care. Prepare now before costs rise

Thomas Kent

Fri, September 4, 2026 at 2:35 PM GMT+3 10 min read

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

President Donald Trump says the federal government is spending so much on war, including the war in Iran, that it can't afford programs like day care and health care.

"The United States can't take care of day care. That has to be up to a state," Trump said during a White House event (1). "We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care."

Top Picks

• Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one

• JPMorgan sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Get your free guide from Priority Gold

• The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes

He extended that logic to major health care programs as well.

"Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things … You can't do it," Trump said during a White House Easter lunch (2). "We have to take care of one thing: military protection — we have to guard the country."

The remarks came as Republicans weighed potential cuts to federal health spending, while the Pentagon sought an additional $200 billion to bankroll the conflict (3).

Since then, the U.S. has become progressively more embroiled in the war with Iran. In July, Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of War, said that the conflict had burned $37.5 billion, according to PBS (4). Other estimates place the true cost closer to $100 billion, according to the New Yorker (5). This price tag includes hard to quantify loses such as damage to American bases abroad and the worldwide impact on energy prices.

Compared to these issues, it appears that other outlays are taking a back seat.

The trade off between war and everyday expenses

Trump framed programs like child care and health care as responsibilities that should shift away from the federal government.

"You've got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it too," he said at the White House event, calling some federal programs "little scams" that should be handled locally.

Critics like Elizabeth Warren pushed back on that framing.

"Imagine if instead of funding forever wars in the Middle East, the United States delivered universal child care and health care for all Americans," Warren wrote on X (6).

Elsewhere, lawmaker Brendan Boyle warned that proposed spending changes could leave millions more Americans without coverage if cuts to programs like Medicaid move forward.

"Now, Republicans in Washington want to rip health care away from even more people to fund Trump's reckless war in the Middle East," Boyle wrote on X (7).

"It's shameful," he added.

These concerns don't float in a vacuum. According to the American Psychological Association, cuts started with 2025's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will result in 11.8 million individuals losing their health insurance coverage under Medicaid, with another 3.1 million losing out on Medicaid under their marketplace plans (8).

Given that American families will be put under pressure by the cuts, the bigger question is how households will absorb those costs if public support shrinks.

Read More: Millionaires under 43 hold only 32% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going

What it could mean for your finances

The federal government currently spends about 8% of all federal outlays on children's programming (9), according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. That might seem like a lot, but it barely registers compared to some other outlays. For example, the same report found that the government spends 42% of its outlays on the adult portions of Social Security, Medicare, & Medicaid.

Even without any immediate policy changes, the direction of the conversation suggests that families are going to have to take on more costs in the near future, including the following:

• higher child care costs, especially if federal support stalls or shifts to states

• more out-of-pocket health care spending, particularly for those relying on programs like Medicaid

• rising cost of living, driven in part by global instability and energy prices tied to conflict

These are likely to hit many middle-income families hard, especially the households balancing child care, health care and long-term savings simultaneously.

In fact, child care already cost the average U.S. family about $13,184 in 2025 — or a touch over $1,000 a month — for one child (10). If support is reduced, even a $300 increase would add up to $3,600 in additional expenses per year.

Add in higher insurance premiums or medical bills, and that financial strain can quickly multiply.

How to protect your finances as costs rise

When expenses become less predictable, building a financial cushion is often the first step. Financial experts generally recommend having three to six months' worth of living expenses stashed away. This can help you absorb sudden increases in cost — whether connected to your health of the cost of child care.

A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your uninvested cash, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your money when you need it.

A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%.

That's ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC's August report.

Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/mo minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8M FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks.

But while building a cash cushion can help you handle short-term surprises, it doesn't address every financial risk.

Consider term life insurance to protect your loved ones

As more responsibility for things like child care, health care and household stability shifts onto individuals, protecting your family's long-term financial security is just as important as building savings — especially in a worst-case scenario.

If you want to ensure your family isn't hit with unexpected costs after your death, consider signing up for term life insurance from Ethos. As a licensed third-party insurance administrator, Ethos has joined forces with some of the industry's top carriers, including Banner Life, TruStage Financial and Ameritas Life Insurance.

Ethos gives you the flexibility to select coverage amounts ranging from $2,000 to $100,000. Premiums start at just $9.80 a month and are guaranteed throughout the term.

You can get coverage in just 10 minutes online or by phone, with no medical exams or blood tests required.

Don't overlook the cost of long-term care

But protecting your family financially isn't just about preparing for the unexpected; it's also about planning for the costs that can come later in life. With health care under the federal microscope, you may want to look for private alternatives.

And long-term care isn't cheap. On average, home health aides cost just above $51,000 a year, while nursing home care averages well over $100,000 annually, depending on the level of care (11). And unlike many medical expenses, long-term care is typically not covered by Medicare beyond limited short-term stays.

Long-term care insurance offers coverage for the costs of in-home assistance, nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Without proper planning, paying for long-term care could deplete your retirement fund. In many cases, the burden of paying for care often falls on family members — potentially straining their finances.

GoldenCare offers different options based on your needs, including hybrid life or annuity with long-term care benefits, short-term care, extended care, home health care, assisted living and traditional long-term care insurance.

Make the most of your money in retirement

As you get closer to retirement, every dollar starts to matter more. Rising health care costs, uncertain markets and fixed incomes can make it harder to stretch your savings — especially if you're trying to plan for decades ahead.

You might want to consider joining senior-focused organizations like AARP for discounts on almost everything — from prescriptions and dental plans to travel, entertainment and insurance.

As one of the most trusted organizations for older Americans, AARP not only offers money-saving perks, but it can also help you make informed financial and health decisions.

AARP members get access to guides that can help you make the most of Social Security, choose the right Medicare plan and uncover other government benefits — potentially saving you thousands.

Sign up with AARP today and get 25% off your first year.

The bottom line

Whether or not these changes take effect, one thing is becoming harder to ignore: The financial burden is shifting more into the laps of Americans.

As government priorities evolve, some will be left to cover more of the costs tied to child care, health care and retirement on their own.

Planning now could make all the difference in navigating what comes next, but sometimes this requires a bit of help.

That's where Advisor.com can come in. The platform connects you with an expert near you for free.

Advisor.com does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Their network also comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.

Just enter a few details about your finances and goals, and Advisor.com's AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert best suited for your needs based on your unique financial goals and preferences.

Finding the right advisor isn't always easy — there's no one-size-fits-all solution. That's why Advisor.com lets you set up a free initial consultation, with no obligation to hire, to see if they're the right fit for you.

After all, understanding your finances now can protect you later — regardless of who sits in the White House.

What To Read Next

• A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

• Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

• Your Social Security 'Trump Bump' in 2027 will be one of the biggest in 25 years — but there's a serious catch no one's talking about

• Dave Ramsey says this 1 indulgent purchase stops Americans from becoming wealthy. Here's what he recommends instead

Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise's best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

@factpostnews (); @ForbesBreakingNews (); Reuters (); PBS; (); The New Yorker (); @ewarren (); @CongBoyle (); American Psychological Association (); Peter G. Peterson Foundation (); Child Care Aware of America (); Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program ()

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.