Paving the way for President Trump’s tax package, House Republicans want to change Medicaid by unveiling a plan to reform the program through work requirements and stricter eligibility checks.
The proposal, introduced on May 11, aims to generate nearly $880 billion in savings over the next decade to fund tax cuts for middle-class Americans.
The legislation, drafted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would require able-bodied Medicaid recipients up to 64 years old to work, volunteer, or participate in job training programs to maintain their benefits.
This common-sense approach ensures that welfare programs serve as a temporary safety net rather than a permanent lifestyle for those capable of self-sufficiency.
The proposed changes would generate an estimated $912 billion in federal savings over the next decade, with the majority ($715 billion) coming from reforms to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
These reforms target waste, fraud, and abuse within a system that has ballooned beyond its original purpose of helping truly needy Americans.
Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) emphasized the importance of these reforms for American taxpayers, stating: “Savings like these allow us to use this bill to renew the Trump tax cuts and keep Republicans’ promise to hardworking middle-class families.”
The legislation also addresses several Biden-era policies that have burdened American energy production.
It would rescind funds for climate-change initiatives and expedite the development of natural gas and oil pipelines—measures that would help reduce energy costs for all Americans while supporting national energy independence.
Additional Medicaid reforms include cutting a 5% funding boost implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic that is no longer necessary, prohibiting federal funding for non-citizen immigrants, and freezing the provider tax that some states have exploited to increase federal matching funds.
Predictably, Democrats oppose these reasonable reforms, Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) claiming, “In no uncertain terms, millions of Americans will lose their health care coverage.”
This fearmongering ignores that the proposed reforms simply restore accountability to a system that has strayed far from its original purpose.
President Trump has previously promised not to cut Medicaid, creating some tension within GOP ranks.
However, supporters of the proposed law argue these changes do not constitute “cuts” but instead common-sense reforms that ensure benefits reach those truly in need while encouraging self-sufficiency among able-bodied Americans.
Ultimately, the legislation represents the most significant battle over healthcare since 2017 and is critical to President Trump’s domestic agenda.
By targeting inefficiencies in government spending rather than raising taxes, Republicans are demonstrating their commitment to fiscal responsibility while supporting middle-class families through meaningful tax relief.
