While Illinois is better positioned to withstand a recession than at any point over the past two decades, federal funding cuts and freezes since the beginning of 2025 pose imminent threats to Illinois’ $1.2 trillion economy. Policy changes in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” budget reconciliation law, targeted freezes during the federal government shutdown from October to November 2025, and cuts and recissions in the name of “government efficiency” will make healthcare less affordable, take food assistance away from families, eliminate infrastructure projects, undermine the State’s ability to research new technologies and prevent infectious disease outbreaks, and cause unemployment to rise.
