Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-02) suggested cutting an eye-popping $500 billion from Medicaid in the upcoming budget. House Republicans have already voted twice to cut Medicaid to fund tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations, and continue to push ahead with these devastating cuts. This would be the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and put millions of Americans at risk of losing their health care.
Medicaid is an indispensable pillar of our economy and health care system. It provides health care to more than 70 million Americans with Medicaid, including low-income seniors, children, veterans, people with serious disabilities, workers who don’t get coverage through their jobs, and people who take care of their children or elderly parents.
“As the GOP drafts their devastating budget, one thing remains true: Republicans in Congress want to make the largest Medicaid cuts in history to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans,” said Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse. “Now that Congress is back in session, Republicans are continuing their effort to dismantle the health care that is woven deeply into the threads of our health care system. Whether it’s a trillion dollars, half a trillion, or hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts, no member of Congress can justify ripping health care away from some of the most vulnerable Americans to give tax breaks to the wealthy. Not one dollar should be cut from Medicaid to pay for one dollar of tax breaks for the rich.”
BACKGROUND
Medicaid provides coverage and lifesaving care to 1 in 5 Americans, including:
- Nearly half of all children in America
- 6 in 10 nursing home residents
- Nearly one million non-elderly veterans
- 4 in 10 births
- 20 percent of adults in rural areas
- Over 8 million seniors
- 5.6 million who count on Medicaid for long-term care
- More than 1 in 3 people with disabilities
Republicans are turning their backs on their own voters. In 2024, Donald Trump won 49 percent of voters who rely on Medicaid.
