Recent federal budget and reconciliation legislation includes massive Medicaid reductions, approximately $1 trillion in cuts over the next decade, forcing states to rethink eligibility, provider reimbursements, and benefits coverage. For individuals relying on public benefits (including many special needs trust (SNT) beneficiaries), these cuts threaten essential services, support systems, and long-term care infrastructure. This session will explore how the changes may cascade into challenges for SNT planning, trusts, and benefit preservation. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to help future-proof SNT strategies and better advise clients in an era of constrained public funding.