Leopards Ate My Face

A rural medical clinic in Nebraska — located in a district that President Donald Trump won by more than 50 points in the 2024 election — is being forced to close its doors, with its CEO citing federal cuts to Medicaid as the main reason behind the shutdown.

The closure comes just days after Republicans pushed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping tax cuts and spending package that includes deep reductions to Medicaid. The bill passed in the House by a 218-214 vote, with every Democrat and two Republicans opposing it. Trump is expected to sign it into law on July 4.

The legislation aims to fulfill Trump’s signature campaign promises — including making permanent the tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit wealthy Americans and ramping up funding for immigration enforcement. To offset those costs, the bill imposes large spending cuts on Medicaid and food assistance programs, which critics argue will devastate working-class, low-income, and elderly Americans — particularly those in rural red states.

Community Hospital, based in McCook, Nebraska, announced this week that it will shut down its rural clinic in Curtis, a town of about 900 residents.

“Unfortunately, the current financial environment, driven by anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid, has made it impossible for us to continue operating all of our services, many of which have faced significant financial challenges for years,” said Community Hospital CEO Troy Bruntz in a statement on Wednesday.