President Donald Trump waves outside the Oval Office as he arrives at the White House, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

With President Donald Trump seeing record-low approval ratings after his first 100 days, his economic impact on Wisconsin could see millions lose economic benefits in the vital swing state.

In Wisconsin, a state that Trump narrowly won by 29,397 votes last November, the impact from the administration’s economic policies has already been destructive on the state’s economy. According to the Department of Labor, 55,182 unemployment filings have occurred in Wisconsin since Trump took office in January, while 1,109 people have been laid off.

Trump’s Republican-controlled Congress has also taken aim at Medicaid and SNAP benefits in budget negotiations, putting millions of Wisconsinites and children at risk of losing health care and food assistance benefits. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) also began cutting Social Security Administration staff earlier this year, reportedly leading to website crashes, increased wait times and potentially improper handling of sensitive data.

Over 1.2 million people in Wisconsin rely on Social Security benefits for retirement, and several Republicans have floated changes to the program where young workers would see their benefits reduced.

The Trump has also threatened Head Start, a government program founded in the 1960s that provides early childhood education for low-income families. On April 1, a regional Head Start office in Wisconsin was abruptly shut down, with employees unsure of the program’s long-term existence.

Trump is reportedly planning to unveil a budget that would completely eliminate Head Start, putting $204 million in funding for nearly 15,000 Wisconsin children at risk.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin issued a response Tuesday morning to Trump’s economic threats to Wisconsin, blasting the president for financially hurting citizens while economists predict a recession.

“Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office have been a complete disaster for Wisconsinites. There’s a reason his approval rating continues to drop to record lows. Staring down the threat of a Trump recession, Wisconsinites are seeing costs rise, jobs dry up, Wisconsin projects shuttered, and hard-earned benefits and critical programs under attack. Across the board, Trump’s first 100 days in office have been devastating for Wisconsin. Democrats are organizing and fighting back, building power in Wisconsin community by community, block by block.”

Republicans have already slashed federal funding for vital programs and infrastructure projects, and massive cuts to Medicaid SNAP, and potentially Social Security are on the agenda as the House and Senate negotiate a massive spending bill.