What is at Stake Because of the “Big Ugly Bill” in Georgia?

The Trump administration may have passed the Big Terrible Bill in Washington, but its consequences are hitting Georgia hard—and fast. Food assistance is being slashed, student loan costs are skyrocketing, and billions in education funding are being withheld. Families, students, and schools can’t wait until January. Under Georgia law, only Governor Kemp can call a Special Session of the legislature—a constitutional tool meant for exactly this kind of crisis. With a $15 billion surplus and solutions on the table, Georgia has the power to act. The only question is do our leaders have the will?

SNAP: 1st Wave of Georgians Start Losing Benefits

The cuts to SNAP done by the Big Terrible Bill will begin to show its ugly face right before Thanksgiving. The next Federal fiscal year begins October 1, 2025 with Georgians beginning to lose their benefits in November. 

With food banks already stretched to the max each holiday season as is, there are many concerned about American people going hungry when the weather turns cold this year. 

 “We would essentially have to double our volume overnight.” — Kyle Waide, Atlanta Community Food Bank

While Trump insists the economy is strong, working families in Georgia are being told to do more with less—right as prices rise, bills stack up, and kids come home from school to empty cupboards.

Georgia has the resources to help. With a $15 billion surplus, the state has the power to step in now—to protect children, seniors, and working families from preventable hunger.

Lawmakers must consider:

• Emergency SNAP bridge funding for families facing benefit cuts

• Expanded support for food banks and local nutrition programs

• A plan to sustain food security throughout the holiday season and beyond

For this reason, we cannot wait until January for our normal legislative session to begin. In order to discuss funding opportunities to, at the very least, protect families as we adjust to this new legislation, a special session must be called. 

Georgia Schools at Risk as Trump Freezes Billions in Federal Education Funding

The Trump Administration is withholding over $6 billion dollars in federal funding grants to schools. Schools nationwide rely on federal grants to ensure certain student populations such as disabled, low-income, and special needs students receive the care that they need. Nearly 1,500 of Georgia’s 2,300 schools are classified as Title I, meaning a large percentage of students are low-income. The Trump Administration’s targeting: education for migrants, English learning services, and after school programs is crucial for Georgians, as there is a significant non-English speaking and migrant population in Georgia schools.

All over the country, low income districts are having funding for extracurricular programs gutted, and for what purpose? The objective of such programs serve students and the communities they are a part of. Since this announcement more than 20 states have sued the Trump Administration over their decision to freeze crucial funding to their schools. 

In their mission statement, the Department of Education states one of its goals as being to “Strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual.” These actions taken against vulnerable communities composed of the youth directly contrast the DOE’s claim that these decisions are upholding their responsibilities. The Department of Education has crumbled under an administration that doesn’t want to fulfill their duty to serve the citizens that are seeking higher knowledge through education. 

Crushing Dreams: How Trump’s Student Loan Law Hurts Future Generations

One of the bill’s most devastating effects is on student loans. It slashes federal borrowing limits, eliminates affordable repayment plans, and forces many borrowers into higher monthly payments. In practical terms, this means that thousands of students at Georgia’s colleges—especially those from working-class and middle-income families—will now be priced out of higher education or pushed into predatory private loans.

Graduate programs in medicine, public health, and education will be hit hardest. Georgia institutions like Emory, Georgia Tech, and Augusta University train the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals we rely on. But under this new law, pursuing those careers may no longer be financially viable—especially for students of color and first-generation college students. Higher education, as well as fields such as healthcare, have always been difficult dreams to pursue for many in this country. Dreams that should not be so difficult to make come true.

There are solutions on the table:

• Emergency grants or bridge funding for students in affected programs

• State-backed alternatives to federal student loans

• Expanded tuition support for in-demand careers like medicine, teaching, and clean energy

But none of this happens unless the legislature meets.

Phony Excuses from the GOP

Georgia Republican leaders are under growing pressure to hold a special legislative session. There are some logistical issues to work out. Capitol renovations and rules about suspending fundraising. Renovations haven’t stopped sessions before, they could easily find another venue or go virtual. As for fundraising, that’s a small issue compared to the serious challenges Georgians are facing.

If the stakes are high enough to warrant legislative action—whether on tax windfalls, public health emergencies, or redistricting—the law has always made ethical sense, and members have worked around it. Special sessions are brief. Campaigns adapt. Voters expect action, not excuses.

By avoiding a special session, lawmakers appear more interested in protecting their campaigns than protecting their communities. This isn’t just disappointing—it’s irresponsible. Georgia’s leaders have a duty to respond to crises, not dodge them. If they won’t act, we need to ask: who are they really working for?

To Conclude:

We are calling on Governor Kemp to convene a Special Session of the Legislature—to protect Georgia’s students and future healthcare professionals, and to soften the impact of this harmful federal law. Other states are already moving quickly to shield their residents from the worst effects of Trump’s bill. Georgia must do the same.

A Special Session is not only possible—it’s urgent.