What Can House Republicans Cut Instead of Medicaid? Not Much.
Trump Administration
ADVERTISEMENT
We encourage you to review our updated Terms of Sale, Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy. By continuing, you agree to the updated Terms listed here.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten A Key House Vote On Trump’s Agenda Today—Here’s Why The GOP Is Divided
House Republicans are expected to vote on a spending blueprint Tuesday that would kickstart the legislative process for enacting President Donald Trump’s policy agenda—but nearly $1 trillion in potential cuts to Medicaid has made some Republicans uneasy, threatening to derail its passage. (Follow here for further updates.)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks with reporters as he walks to the House Chamber from his … [+]
The fiscal year 2025 spending plan would likely lead to about $800 billion in cuts from Medicaid over the next decade, part of about $2 trillion in overall spending cuts to help pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts plus boosts in defense and border spending.
The federal government’s Medicaid program provides health care coverage to more than 72 million Americans.
While the resolution doesn’t explicitly call for cuts to Medicaid, skeptical lawmakers have warned there’s virtually no other way to achieve the $880 billion in cuts the resolution tasks the Energy and Commerce Committee with finding without slashing Medicaid spending.
Moderate Republicans in vulnerable districts and those where significant portions of their constituents are on Medicaid have expressed resistance to any Medicaid spending cuts.
Eight House Republicans, including Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif. and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., who are members of the Hispanic Conference or represent districts with sizeable Hispanic populations, warned in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this month that “slashing Medicaid would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities,” while also advocating for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—often known as food stamps—to remain protected.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who represents a district that voted for Kamala Harris in November, also expressed concerns about the potential Medicaid cuts and said he has asked House leadership to prove that the $880 billion in cuts the budget instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to find “won’t overly cut Medicaid,” Roll Call reported.
Johnson has previously suggested tying work requirements to Medicaid could be one way to cut the program, and Republicans have mulled limiting the amount of money given to states to administer Medicaid.
Assuming all Democrats vote against the spending plan, Republicans can afford to lose just one vote under their 218-215 majority in the House. At least three as of Tuesday morning—Reps. Tom Massie, R-Ky., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Victoria Spartz, R-Ind.—have said they oppose the resolution, citing the need for steeper spending cuts. Burchett also told reporters he wanted a permanent extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
Johnson said “no” when asked by Politico on Monday whether he would amend the budget to alleviate concerns about Medicaid cuts, noting that the resolution only includes topline spending goals the relevant House committees are required to use as a blueprint for making cuts and doesn’t include anything “specific about Medicaid.” The resolution, Johnson said, “is merely the starting point for the process . . . the legislation comes later.” Johnson told reporters late Monday “I think we look good” when asked if he has the votes, adding “we’re having very productive conversations. As you all know, this is all part of the process and I think we’re on track.”
A $4 trillion increase to the federal debt ceiling, another potential sticking point for some Republicans, including Burchett and Massie, who have historically resisted any increase to the debt limit. The spending plan would also extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and include an additional $300 billion for the border and defense.
The Senate plan, passed last week, does not include Medicaid cuts. The Senate budget resolution omits tax policy but sets the spending agenda to enact Trump’s border, defense and energy policies, punting negotiations on tax policy to a later date and breaking up the spending plan into two separate measures.
Trump has called for “one big, beautiful bill” as proposed by the House, he said Wednesday on Truth Social, though two days later he said he was supportive of the Senate agenda as a backup plan, telling Fox News radio “it gives you optionality.”
Exclusive Invitation: Save up to 60% on a Forbes Membership
Trump said last week in an interview on Fox News that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would “be strengthened . . . none of that stuff is going to be touched,” a stance that contradicts his endorsement of the House Republican budget proposal.
Musk replied “that sounds bad” to Massie’s post on X Monday stating “if the Republican budget passes, the deficit gets worse, not better.”
The Senate will vote on the measure. If approved, it would kickstart the legislative process for enacting Trump’s agenda by setting spending goals for his various policy priorities. The relevant House and Senate committees would then draft legislation according to those goals.
Republicans’ plans for Medicaid have a political problem (Politico)
Mike Johnson’s moment of truth (Politico)
Medicaid Cuts Pose Budget Conundrum for Valadao and Republicans Nationwide (New York Times)
Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics, with a focus on elections and Capitol Hill. She joined Forbes… Read More
Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics, with a focus on elections and Capitol Hill. She joined Forbes
One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.
TOPLINE
KEY FACTS
HOW MANY VOTES CAN REPUBLICANS LOSE TO PASS THE BUDGET RESOLUTION?
WHAT HAS HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON SAID ABOUT MEDICAID CUTS?
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE HOUSE GOP BUDGET?
HOW DOES THE HOUSE PLAN DIFFER FROM THE SENATE’S?
WHAT HAS TRUMP SAID ABOUT THE SPENDING PLANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE?
WHAT HAS TRUMP SAID ABOUT MEDICAID?
WHAT HAS ELON MUSK SAID ABOUT THE HOUSE GOP BUDGET?
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE?
FURTHER READING
15 High-Paying, Low-Stress Remote Jobs In 2025
The Billionaires Benefitting From H-1B Visas
‘A Complete Unknown’ Is Now Streaming—How To Watch The Acclaimed Bob Dylan Biopic At Home
DOJ Memo Bad News For Employers Of H-1B Visa Holders And Other Immigrants
3 Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Truly Loved—By A Psychologist
When Ramadan And Easter Are In 2025 — And Why They’Re Split By Two Eclipses
Trump Media Paid Donald Trump Jr. Nearly A Quarter Of Its Annual Revenue. He Attended Just Two Board Meetings
Department Of Education Takes Down Key Student Loan Forgiveness And Repayment Applications
Join The Conversation
‘Don’t Buy The Dip’—Stark Bitcoin ETF Warning Adds To ‘Extreme’ Fed Price Crash Fear
House Passes Budget Bill—Major Win For Trump And Johnson In First Legislative Test
2 Passive Income Ideas For Busy Professionals In 2025
4 Subtle Relationship Patterns That Lead To Breakups—By A Psychologist
What Is Gibberlink Mode, AI’s Secret Language?
Ukrainian ‘Road Cutter’ Drones Are Strangling Russian Supply Lines—And Saving Pokrovsk
Elon Musk’S Federal Worker Emails: Agency Leaders Can Decide If Employees Must Reply, White House Says
7 Freelance Remote Jobs That Pay Up To $15,000+ A Month In 2025
Traditional Degrees Are Becoming Obsolete. Here Are The Skills Needed For Today’S Job Market
Medicaid Cuts Threaten A Key House Vote On Trump’s Agenda Today—Here’s Why The GOP Is Divided
Trump Launching $5 Million ‘Gold Card’ Visas For Wealthy—What We Know About New Path To Citizenship
Sweden Makes Some Of The Best Short-Range Air Defenses. Three Countries Just Teamed Up To Ship the Gear To Ukraine.
See A Crescent Moon, Venus And The Northern Lights: The Night Sky This Week
Why Is Lester Holt Leaving ‘NBC Nightly News?’ Here’s Who Could Replace Him
Blackpink Star Lisa’s New Single Is Something Of A Sales Disappointment
At stake is coverage for roughly 79 million people enrolled in Medicaid and its related Children’s Health Insurance Program. So, too, is the financial health of thousands of hospitals and community health centers — and a huge revenue source to all states.
On Feb. 13, the House Budget Committee voted to seek at least $880 billion in mandatory spending cuts on programs overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. That committee oversees Medicaid, which is expected to bear much of the cuts.
Senate Republicans, working on their own plan, have not proposed similar deep cuts. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the Finance Committee’s top Democrat, said he expects “an effort to keep the Medicaid cuts hidden behind the curtain, but they’re going to come sooner or later.”
Sponsor Message
Become an NPR sponsor
