Press Releases
ICYMI: Trump Breaks Budget Promise, Endorses Dramatic Medicaid Cuts
Trump reneges on earlier promise not to cut health care programs by endorsing plan that could gut Medicaid and ACA programs by at least $880 billion
WASHINGTON, DC — As Republicans begin to advance different budget plans in the House and Senate, Trump has endorsed the House Republican plan proposing at least $880 billion in potential cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. This all despite his own claims from earlier this week to the contrary. Reporting from POLITICO last night revealed confusion across the administration as Trump endorsed a House Republican budget that would “gut Medicaid,” mere hours after swearing the program wouldn’t be touched.
By endorsing House Republicans’ budget plan, Trump once again is putting the interests of the ultra-wealthy and corporations over the needs of everyday Americans, supporting a plan that devastates the health care of tens of millions of Americans. Trump’s statements to the contrary cannot mask his betrayal to millions of people across the country who believed he would lower their costs. Medicaid is more than a pawn in the administration’s game: it’s an essential program for millions of Americans of all ages.”
Accountable.US Executive Director Tony Carrk
Per POLITICO:
“The potential Medicaid reductions — an option to help pay for Trump’s wide-ranging tax, energy and border agenda — are triggering a backlash from Republican lawmakers whose constituents rely on the program
…
“As Medicaid has expanded in more red states under the Affordable Care Act and the Republican Party has become more populist, its voter base is increasingly reliant on the program, which provides health care to lower-income Americans of all ages.
“On Wednesday, the White House appeared to add a new wrinkle by indicating Trump may also be open to altering elements of Medicare — the popular health care program for older Americans he’s repeatedly promised to preserve.
“‘The Trump administration is committed to protecting Medicare and Medicaid while slashing the waste, fraud, and abuse within those programs — reforms that will increase efficiency and improve care for beneficiaries,’ White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in an initial statement to POLITICO.
“But after this article was published, Desai sent an updated statement that omitted the mention of Medicare, instead saying only that the administration sought to protect Medicaid “while slashing the waste, fraud and abuse within the program.”
“The flurry of pronouncements threatens to further complicate a major legislative push meant to serve as the centerpiece of Trump’s agenda in his first 100 days in office.”
