House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that the Republicans’ “big, beautiful” spending bill contains no cuts to Medicaid, despite Democrat claims to the contrary. Johnson made it clear that the plan aims to reform, not slash, the program.
“There are no Medicaid cuts in the big, beautiful bill,” Johnson said. “What we are doing is reducing the program wrought with fraud, waste, and abuse to make sure that it is essential for so many people and ensure that it is available for the most vulnerable.”
Johnson stressed that Medicaid must focus on those who truly need help, including “young, single pregnant women, the disabled, and the elderly.” He criticized the current system, where “young men, able-bodied workers are on Medicaid and not working when they can,” which he said diverts resources from those in need.
The Speaker also pushed back against alarmist figures cited by opponents, saying, “They keep saying 7.6 million people will be affected. When you break down the numbers, you’re talking about 1.4 million illegal aliens on Medicaid. They are not entitled to that.”
The bill includes work requirements of just 20 hours per week, which can be met through job training, community service, or employment. Johnson argued that these modest requirements are designed to preserve Medicaid for future generations, not eliminate it.
Johnson’s comments highlight a growing Republican effort to refocus federal aid programs on the truly needy while addressing fraud and waste. The Speaker’s firm stance signals that House Republicans are prepared to push back against Democrat narratives as the spending debate heats up.
