Washington, D.C. —
Amid growing backlash over proposed Medicaid cuts in the GOP’s new budget package, House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending the legislation, insisting that the reductions are narrowly targeted and will not impact Americans who genuinely need assistance.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Johnson emphasized that the cuts are part of a broader effort to root out abuse and inefficiencies in the system. “This isn’t about stripping coverage from low-income families or the elderly,” he said. “It’s about making sure that Medicaid is sustainable and reserved for those who truly qualify.”
The proposed legislation includes sweeping budgetary revisions, with nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other federal safety net programs over the next decade. Democrats and healthcare advocates have warned that such reductions could leave millions of Americans without access to essential health services. Johnson, however, argues that the focus is on eliminating fraud and closing loopholes.
“Far too often, we’ve seen the system exploited — by individuals who don’t meet income thresholds, by fraudulent claims, and by providers inflating costs,” he said. “Our reforms will ensure Medicaid serves its intended purpose: helping the most vulnerable, not subsidizing misuse.”
Critics remain unconvinced. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called the proposed cuts “cruel and misguided,” saying that any reduction in funding would inevitably harm the working poor, seniors in nursing homes, and children with disabilities. “You cannot cut this deeply without real human consequences,” she said.
Health policy experts say that while fraud prevention is important, major structural cuts risk collateral damage. “There’s a big difference between trimming waste and slashing eligibility,” said Dr. Michael Heller, a healthcare economist at Brookings. “These cuts could lead to administrative burdens that deter even eligible people from accessing care.”
Johnson dismissed those concerns, stating that the bill includes safeguards to preserve services for vulnerable populations. “We’ve done our due diligence,” he said. “This is about efficiency and fairness.”
As the Senate prepares to debate the package, the future of the proposed Medicaid changes remains uncertain. But Speaker Johnson appears unwavering in his message: the cuts are not an attack on the poor — they are, he says, a necessary fix to preserve the program’s long-term viability.
“We are committed to responsible governance,” Johnson said. “That means confronting fraud, not funding it.”
