GOP Spending Cuts Target Medicaid: Trump's Promise Challenged

The House of Representatives is struggling to identify $1.5 trillion in spending cuts while honoring pledges to protect Medicaid. This challenge arises from a budget resolution mandating the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in savings.

Achieving such substantial savings appears difficult without significant reductions to Medicaid, which currently provides healthcare coverage for 72 million Americans. Some Republicans are voicing opposition to measures that would cut Medicaid benefits, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Speaker Mike Johnson suggests savings can be achieved by targeting fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicaid system, as well as preventing access for undocumented individuals. The federal government spent approximately $18 billion on emergency Medicaid services for undocumented immigrants between 2017 and 2023.

While Republicans generally favor work requirements and stricter eligibility verification, deeper Medicaid cuts are likely necessary to reach the $880 billion target. Republicans from states that expanded Medicaid under Obamacare are particularly concerned about potential cuts, as 40 states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid, covering approximately 20 million people.

Any reduction in the federal share of Medicaid funding would shift costs to state governments, a move opposed by some, including Representative Jeff Van Drew. Senators Josh Hawley, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski have also expressed skepticism about achieving the required savings without cutting Medicaid benefits.