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By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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President Donald Trump made no mention of Medicaid during his lengthy address to Congress on Tuesday night, raising questions—despite prior assurances—about the administration's commitment to the government health care program amid proposed spending cuts.
The White House has been contacted for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Medicaid provides health coverage to some 80 million low-income individuals, including children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. The joint federal and state program has been a focal point in past political debates, with Republicans historically pushing for funding cuts and restructuring. During his first term, Trump repeatedly attempted to cut Medicaid funding and limit its expansion.
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According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, around $600 billion in government spending goes toward Medicaid.
The GOP has put forward spending plans earlier this year that could result in hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to the health care program. Concerns have also been raised that Medicare and Medicaid may face drastic cuts from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.
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What to Know
Trump's address to Congress was an opportunity for the president to highlight his achievements in the first six weeks of his second term and lay out his plans for the future.
The president spent a portion of his speech praising the work of Musk's DOGE team, citing several examples of how his administration is working to end the "flagrant waste" of taxpayer dollars and federal spending.
However, he did not address whether health care programs will be protected in the U.S. going forward.
In a February 18 interview with Fox News alongside Musk, Trump assured viewers that "Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched" as Republicans push for massive spending and tax cuts.
Despite this, Trump endorsed a government spending bill that seeks $2 trillion in cuts over 10 years. The bill includes $880 billion in reductions to the Energy and Commerce Committee, the agency that oversees Medicaid. The budget resolution was narrowly passed in a 217-215 House vote on February 25.
While the bill does not explicitly state that Medicaid will be cut, analysts have noted that the multi-billion-dollar spending reductions could make such cuts unavoidable.
Even if the committee eliminates all spending unrelated to health care, it would still be more than $600 billion short, The New York Times reported.
House Speaker Mike Jonson, a Republican, previously denied the GOP's plan is to cut Medicaid, but is to target those who do not need to be on it.
Democrats have still expressed concerns that Medicaid will be reduced under the GOP majority in Congress.
Texas Democratic Representative Al Green was removed from the chamber Tuesday after shouting, "You have no mandate to cut Medicaid," while the president was delivering his speech.
Democratic lawmakers also held signs reading "Musk Steals" and "Save Medicaid" during the address.
And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer invited Jessica Martinez, a cancer survivor who relies on Medicaid, to watch Trump's speech.
What People Are Saying
Democratic Rhode Island Representative Seth Magaziner said in a video posted Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter: "Nowhere in his [Trump's] speech did he say that he would protect Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. Nowhere in his speech did he say how he will pay for the tax cuts for the billionaires that he is trying to push through. Spoiler alert: He is going to pay for those tax cuts for billionaires by raising taxes on the middle class and cutting programs that people rely on."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a Tuesday statement: "Over 240,000 families in Rockland and Westchester counties rely on Medicaid. If President Trump and congressional Republicans continue their cruel plan for the largest health care cut in history, it will be Hudson Valley families who suffer the consequences. Jessica Martinez and her family need Medicaid to live, and they don't deserve to have their health care put on the chopping block to pay for Trump's tax cuts for billionaires."
President Donald Trump during his Tuesday address: "We're seeking permanent income tax cuts across the board and urgently needed relief for Americans hit especially hard by inflation. I'm calling for no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security benefits for our great seniors."
House Speaker Mike Jonson in February 26 interview with CNN: "I challenge you to do a word search for Medicaid on the resolution that we passed last night. You will not find it, that is not part of this equation. We're talking about finding efficiencies in every program, but not cutting benefits for people who rightly deserve that. You don't want able bodied workers on a program that is intended for single mothers with two small children who's just trying to make it. That's what Medicaid is for, not for 29 year old males sitting on their couches playing video games."
White House spokesperson Kush Desai in a February statement: "The Trump administration is committed to protecting Medicare and Medicaid while slashing waste, fraud, and abuse within those programs—reforms that will increase efficiency and improve care for beneficiaries."
What Happens Next
The Senate must now review and approve its own budget resolution and may negotiate changes to what was passed in the House. This could include revising the $880 billion in committee cuts that may impact Medicaid.
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