Trump Cutting Medicaid: Are We Going to Let That Happen?
What to Expect as Budget Negotiations Unfold
Republicans are aiming to cut billions in federal spending to finance tax cuts — and a significant portion could come from Medicaid, the government's health insurance program for lower-income Americans.
It was just five minutes into Donald Trump’s second-term address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night when Rep. Al Green began to shout, “No mandate!” The Texas Democrat was then escorted off the House of Representatives floor.
Green said he was protesting deep cuts expected to Medicaid, which provides health and long-term care insurance for millions of Americans. These cuts are part of a deal the Republican-controlled Congress is pushing to make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent—cuts that primarily benefited corporations and the wealthy and are set to expire at the end of this year.
“It’s worth it to let people know that some of us are going to stand up” for this crucial federal-state program, which insures more than 70 million Americans, Green told reporters.
Other Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Sara Jacobs of California and Veronica Escobar of Texas, lifted “Save Medicaid” placards during the president’s speech. Trump, for his part, did not mention Medicaid, instead focusing on tax cuts as part of his economic agenda.
What to Expect as Budget Negotiations Unfold
Republicans are gearing up for what could be a months-long process to enact Trump’s tax and spending agenda. While Trump recently claimed he would not touch Medicaid except to curb fraud and abuse, the proposed budget cuts could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars.
The House recently approved a budget proposal that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and would reduce federal spending by at least $1.5 trillion. All Democrats and one Republican opposed it. The Senate passed its own version the previous week. Before moving forward, both chambers must reconcile their differences and approve a unified budget framework.
Republicans plan to pass Trump’s tax and spending agenda through a simple-majority vote in the Senate, bypassing the filibuster. This means Democrats will have little say in the process.
Where Does Medicaid Stand in the Budget Debate?
When the Senate voted on its budget resolution, Democrats introduced an amendment that would have blocked tax cuts for the wealthy if Medicaid funding was reduced. The amendment had support from Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Susan Collins of Maine but ultimately failed.
After the House passed its budget, Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN that capping per-capita Medicaid spending was “off the table,” suggesting savings could instead come from work requirements. “We are going to carve out the fraud, waste, and abuse, and find efficiencies,” Johnson said.
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned his colleagues that they would have to make “hard choices” on Medicaid and other programs, emphasizing that the process would take time.
Federal and state Medicaid spending totaled $880 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. Republicans have long sought to reduce costs by imposing work requirements or eliminating fraudulent claims. But critics argue that work requirements don’t necessarily generate savings, as most Medicaid recipients who can work are already employed. In 2023, 92% of Medicaid recipients under 65 who were not receiving disability benefits were working, according to KFF, a nonprofit focused on health policy.
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Why Is Medicaid a Target for Budget Cuts?
Simply put, the numbers don’t add up otherwise.
Republican leaders insist that their budget does not specifically call for $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. However, Medicaid and Medicare fall under the jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Republicans have vowed not to cut Medicare. Since roughly 95% of the non-Medicare spending overseen by the committee goes to Medicaid, any significant budget cuts will likely impact the program.
Michael Linden, a former official at the Office of Management and Budget, said that claims of avoiding Medicaid cuts while slashing federal spending by hundreds of billions are “disingenuous.”
Public Reaction to Medicaid Cuts
Medicaid remains highly popular. Polling ahead of Trump’s inauguration showed that 77% of U.S. adults had a favorable view of the program, including 63% of Republicans.
Trump’s spending agenda has sparked backlash at recent GOP town halls, with constituents voicing concerns over Medicaid cuts. Some Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, have reportedly suggested moving town halls online to avoid direct confrontations.
As budget negotiations continue, advocacy groups are working to raise awareness about the potential impact of Medicaid cuts, particularly in swing states and districts. The coming months will determine whether these efforts can shift the political landscape and protect access to healthcare for millions of Americans.
Take Action: Fight Back Against Medicaid Cuts
We cannot sit back and let these cuts happen. The fight for Medicaid is a fight for millions of Americans who rely on this essential program for healthcare and long-term support. We urge our subscribers to call out Republicans and demand that they stop these devastating cuts.
Join us in this critical battle—your voice matters. Support our fight by joining or upgrading to our annual paid plan and take advantage of our International Women's Day 50% off special offer. Stand with us in protecting Medicaid and the communities that depend on it.
I’m a 65 year old disabled woman who now BECAUSE of Social Security, live solely on my SSA benefits. When I first applied I was told that I had to liquidate my assets before they would even consider my case. After doing this I reapplied and was turned down. I finally got an attorney who told me that I could have kept all of my assets because I had been fully vested in Social Security since 1994! Now I’m dependent on both Medicare AND Medicaid! I had thousands of dollars I could have used in my retirement. So I am mad as hell at this republican take over with their slash and burn tactics just to give the wealthiest one percent of Americans a huge tax break! They are the most irresponsible people in the history of this country and if we don’t fight back they will make slaves out of all of us.🫵😡
The silent dissent really pisses me off. They should have shielded Al Green from being escorted out, and joined him in challenging all the BS spewing from the putin puppet! I don’t think the dems did enough last night.