House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back against claims that Republicans are cutting Medicaid, saying the GOP’s budget proposal is focused on eliminating fraud and misuse.
“We are not cutting Medicaid in this package,” Johnson said Sunday during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there about this.”
Johnson emphasized that the goal is to protect Medicaid for vulnerable Americans by removing those who should not be receiving benefits, such as illegal immigrants and able-bodied adults who are not working.
“You’ve got more than 1.4 million illegal aliens on Medicaid,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “Medicaid is not intended for non-US citizens. It’s intended for the most vulnerable populations of Americans, which is pregnant women and young single mothers, the disabled, the elderly. They are protected in what we’re doing because we’re preserving the resources for those who need it most.”
The budget bill proposes new eligibility rules for childless adults aged 19 to 64. To remain on Medicaid, they would be required to work, attend school, or volunteer at least 80 hours per month.
“You’re talking about 4.8 million able-bodied workers, young men for example, who are on Medicaid and not working,” Johnson said.