On June 11, 2025, Congresswoman Gwen Moore pressed Trump Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on how proposed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and ACA will worsen conditions for the more than 50% of Americans already facing economic insecurity.
In her line of questioning, Congresswoman Moore uses the True Cost of Economic Security (TCES), a new and more accurate measure of economic need, to showcase how families are struggling in today’s economy, and the real economic impact of the policies proposed by the current federal administration. Traditional poverty measures like the Federal Poverty Level often underestimate the real cost of living. The True Cost of Economic Security (TCES) measure takes a more holistic approach, considering:
- Cost differences on a county-by-county basis.
- Full costs of modern essentials like housing, childcare, transportation, prescriptions, and school supplies.
- Savings for emergencies, future goals, and more.
We commend the Congresswoman for using the TCES to demand smarter, more equitable policymaking that reflects the real economic conditions Americans face today. With this information, policymakers and government leaders can create meaningful economic policy to support individuals and families and help them thrive.
You can learn more about the TCES measure nationaltruecostofliving.org.
