House Passes Budget Blueprint with Significant Tax Cuts and Medicaid Reductions
The Republican-led House narrowly passed a budget blueprint on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda, which includes significant tax cuts and increased spending on defense and border security. The plan, approved by a 217-215 vote, faced unanimous opposition from Democrats, who criticized its potential impact on social safety-net programs, particularly Medicaid. The budget proposes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade, with an estimated $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid, a federal program providing healthcare coverage to over 72 million Americans.
While the resolution does not explicitly target Medicaid, lawmakers and experts warn that achieving the required $880 billion in cuts assigned to the Energy and Commerce Committee would likely necessitate substantial reductions to the program. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that the resolution is a starting point, with specific legislation to follow. However, concerns persist among moderate Republicans, particularly those representing districts with high Medicaid enrollment, who fear the cuts could devastate vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have vowed to hold Republicans accountable for the proposed cuts, framing the budget as a betrayal of middle- and low-income Americans. The Senate has passed a competing budget resolution that excludes Medicaid cuts, setting the stage for negotiations between the two chambers. If the House plan is ultimately adopted, it could lead to significant reductions in federal Medicaid funding, forcing states to either raise taxes or scale back program eligibility and benefits.
The budget’s passage marks a pivotal moment in the legislative process, with Republicans aiming to use reconciliation to bypass Senate filibusters and advance Trump’s agenda. However, the potential impact on Medicaid remains a contentious issue, with implications for millions of Americans reliant on the program for healthcare coverage.
Republican budget blueprint to fund Trump’s agenda narrowly passes House
Vote passes 217-215 in win for president as Democrats assail proposal over planned cuts to social safety-net programs
www.theguardian.com
Medicaid Cuts Threaten A Key House Vote On Trump’s Agenda Today—Here’s Why The GOP Is Divided
Trump has endorsed the House budget, but has also vowed that his administration would leave Medicaid intact.
www.forbes.com
The Republican House Budget Resolution's Potential $880 Billion in Medicaid Cuts by Congressional District
The Republican House budget resolution would cost congressional districts an average of $2 billion each and could eliminate coverage for 15.9 million
www.americanprogress.org
Minnesota Republicans ask Minnesota Republicans to spare Medicaid • Minnesota Reformer
Medicaid advocates hoping to stave off billions in cuts to the program for low-income and disabled Minnesotans have found an unlikely ally: Republican
minnesotareformer.com
House Republicans scramble for Plan B on Medicaid cuts
Tariff revenue and DOGE savings are among the alternatives GOP leaders are exploring.
www.politico.com
Federal Medicaid cuts could leave Missouri with huge budget shortfall • Missouri Independent
Proposed cuts to Medicaid being considered by the Republican-controlled Congress could create a massive budget shortfall in Missouri, the director of
missouriindependent.com
House Passes Budget Blueprint With Details on Medicaid Cuts Other Healthcare Provisions Yet To Come
But major cuts to federal for Medicaid are a likely outcome of the $1.5-$2 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years that the Republican-backed
www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com
House Republicans pass budget blueprint that could spell Medicaid cuts
Although the budget resolution does not mention Medicaid specifically, lawmakers would be hard pressed to find enough cuts to meet an $880 billion tar
www.healthcaredive.com