Will Elon Musk's DOGE Cuts Derail Meals on Wheels?

Ongoing spending cuts in Washington, DC, have advocates for the nation's Meals on Wheels program afraid they could be adversely affected. The concern is echoed by the people who benefit from the program, namely the poor, sick, and elderly who receive daily meals.

Their fears heightened recently following the massive layoffs at the Administration for Community Living. According to reports, the agency, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has suffered as much as a 40% reduction in staff.

Cost-Cutting Measures Produce Uncertainty

The layoffs are the result of the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the recently created group led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. His cost-cutting measures eliminated the entire staff responsible for social services block grants.

Those grants historically have provided the needed funding when other public funding has fallen short. The government has yet to say whether those grants will continue to exist and, if they do, who will administer them.

While federal funding and support for Meals on Wheels looks to be in danger, the government has yet to target the program specifically However, that fact does little to reassure either advocates or recipients of local services that the agency is safe.

The Possible Effects of a Funding Crisis

The agency's chief policy officer says the office is advising its community partners to establish a backup plan should federal funding disappear. Without local meal deliveries, limited-mobility residents living in isolated rural areas or stuck in inner-city food deserts would have little access to nutrition.

Often, these locations do not have reliable public transportation seniors can use to travel to grocery stores or restaurants. Even older adults who can travel must face the reality of rising food costs. For comparison, the Meals on Wheels program in Ocean County, New Jersey, only requests a $3 donation.

Funding Has Always Been a Concern

Before the DOGE cuts, Meals on Wheels was already suffering from a lack of funds, according to Meals on Wheels America, the national organization supporting community programs nationwide. Besides food, Meals on Wheels America also helps its local counterparts through educational programs and partnerships. The funding has been so low that one out of every three local programs can’t afford to accept everyone in need but has to put them on a waiting list.

The community relations specialist for Meals on Wheels in Ocean County says the operation gets about one-fifth of its funding from the federal level. The local program has about 1,700 people who benefit from its services. If the federal government stops funding the program, over 300 people would be in jeopardy of losing their primary source of meals.

How Meals on Wheels Began

The chief funding for Meals on Wheels owes its existence to legislation Congress passed in 1965 called the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA was a response at the federal level to the inattention older adults were receiving from their local governments.

The legislation offered grants to states that established local services aimed at helping aging populations. The money assisted with planning, training, and geriatric research. The OAA authorizes many programs across the country besides Meals on Wheels, working in conjunction with state and tribal organizations.

Food Deliveries Offer Additional Benefits

Local Meals on Wheels programs go beyond delivering needed food. They also provide housebound people with much-needed human contact with the outside world.

Older people receiving a meal delivery may not have face-to-face daily contact with anyone besides the person making their food delivery. This daily communication means delivery drivers provide incidental wellness checks for some of the most vulnerable citizens in the community.

The Meals on Wheels America website includes a report on the effectiveness of its organization. The report cites 38 research studies showing that Meals on Wheels not only reduces food insecurity and improves nutrition, but also lowers healthcare costs while easing feelings of social isolation. Meals on Wheels America also sees local programs as a way of extending the independence of seniors, allowing them to continue to live in their homes rather than hospitals and nursing facilities.