A new report from Defend America Action says that gig workers are struggling to make ends meet in the Trump economy.
The term gig worker can refer to DoorDashers, Uber drivers, freelancers, or anyone else who is self-employed and provides a one-time service to a mostly online customer base. More than 50 million Americans perform this type of work, and it is regarded as one of the fastest-growing job sectors.
Many gig workers already face uneven employment and inconsistent pay. The report says these challenges are being exacerbated by rising costs linked to tariffs and the war in Iran, as well as cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Nowhere is this more apparent than in gas prices, which have shot up by 60% since the Iran war began. Uber and other rideshare companies do not cover the cost of fuel for their drivers. Many independent truckers are also forced to cover this expense.
“A few weeks ago, I filled up my hybrid car for $36,” John Mejia, an Uber driver from California, told The Guardian in April. “Now it’s $60.”
High fuel costs have contributed to increased retail prices, which were already rising as a result of inflation. Last year, Americans spent, on average, $2,300 more on goods and services than they did in 2024.
The report says gig workers will be further squeezed as provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act begin to take effect, particularly its $1 trillion cut to Medicaid. About 7.8 million Americans are expected to lose health insurance because of the cut. About 20% of Medicaid enrollees are self-employed.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also failed to extend enhanced tax subsidies that lowered the cost of Obamacare plans. The elimination of the subsidies will force 4.2 million Americans to choose between paying more for health insurance or forgoing coverage altogether. About 38% of these individuals are self-employed.
While the report focuses on the Trump economy, it notes that these conditions would not be possible without the cooperation of Republicans in congress.
“Instead of protecting gig workers and self-employed Americans against higher costs, Republicans in Congress are driving countless hardworking Americans to lose life-saving coverage and go without care on top of skyrocketing prices,” the report says.