House Committee Approves $715B Medicaid Cuts Affecting 13.7 Million

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced a budget reconciliation bill that includes approximately $712 to $715 billion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years, passing in a strict party-line vote after a marathon 26-hour markup session. Republicans, led by Chairman Brett Guthrie, argue the bill targets waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid and introduces work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents to encourage workforce re-entry, aiming to preserve the program for its original beneficiaries such as expectant mothers, children, and people with disabilities. Democrats strongly oppose the bill, warning it would strip healthcare coverage from millions of low-income, disabled, and elderly Americans, citing failed similar policies in states like Georgia and Arkansas, and accusing Republicans of prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over healthcare. During the prolonged hearing, Democrats offered numerous amendments to protect Medicaid recipients, but none passed, heightening tensions and drawing protests outside the committee room. Both sides highlighted personal stories to underscore their positions, with Democrats emphasizing the devastating impact on vulnerable populations and Republicans focusing on program sustainability. The bill now moves to the full House for further consideration amid deep partisan divisions over its potential effects on the nation's healthcare safety net.