Right-wing pundits are calling for cuts to Medicaid as the administration searches for ways to offset Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy. Cons
Emma Mae Weber and Reed McMaster at MMFA:
Right-wing pundits are calling for cuts to Medicaid as the administration searches for ways to offset Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy. Conservative media have set their sights on health care, advocating cuts to Medicaid and work requirements for its beneficiaries, which could knock millions off of their health insurance.
Republicans are currently focusing in on cuts to Medicaid, which could put millions at risk of losing healthcare coverage
On February 25, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a budget framework calling for up to $2 trillion in spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. The resolution doesn’t directly call for cuts to Medicaid and instead uses a rhetorical sleight-of-hand to disguise the rollbacks as part of an unspecified $880 billion reduction in spending. The New York Times reported that “Medicaid is likely to be the largest target for cuts to achieve the $880 billion in budget savings set out in the legislation.” [NYT, 2/26/25, 2/25/25]
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the GOP's budget resolution will not be feasible without huge cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. Trump said that only “fraud” will be cut to fund the agenda. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) falsely insisted that the Republican plan would help “save the program for those who really need it” by cutting “out the fraud, waste, and abuse.” [Politico, 2/25/25; The Guardian, 3/6/25; Media Matters, 3/6/25; Fox News, Outnumbered, 3/7/25]
Enacting work requirements for Medicaid could put 36 million people at risk of losing their coverage. As it currently stands, nearly two-thirds of Medicaid recipients are already working full or part-time, while most of the rest are either caring for family, have an illness or disability that prevents them from working, or are in school. The remaining 8% are not working because they are retired, unable to find work, or for another reason. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2/5/25; KKF, 2/18/25]
Right-wing media voices call for Medicaid cuts and/or imposition of work requirements.
