More than two dozen demonstrators were arrested Tuesday, May 13, in the Rayburn House Office Building as House Republicans pushed forward with President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget plan. Protesters, many in wheelchairs, chanted “No cuts to Medicaid!” outside the Energy and Commerce Committee’s markup session on the FY2025 budget resolution.
“Around 2 p.m., 26 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating,” U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to Fox News Digital. The charges included “Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding,” a violation of federal law prohibiting protests within Congressional buildings.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), who had recently spent over 12 hours protesting on Capitol steps during a “hunger strike,” passed through the hallway during the hearing and offered thanks to the protesters for “showing up to protect Medicaid.”
Inside the room, lawmakers clashed over the GOP proposal, which Democrats said would reduce access to Medicaid. Republicans countered by arguing the legislation targets waste and fraud, not benefits for those in need. “We are strengthening and protecting Medicaid for pregnant women, children, individuals with disabilities, low-income seniors and vulnerable families,” said Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN). “What we are doing is eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.”
The committee’s proposals include more frequent eligibility checks, tightened address verification, and prohibiting funding for gender transition procedures for minors. New rules would also bar illegal immigrants from receiving Medicaid services and require certain adult recipients to meet 80-hour monthly work requirements.
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) accused Democrats of misrepresenting the bill. “I want to send one very clear message: you’re being lied to. The other side is telling you a lot of things about this legislation. I’m not sure they have read this legislation,” he said.
Democrats maintained the cuts would harm vulnerable Americans. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) declared, “We are cutting money and health care from people and families who are suffering, to pay for tax cuts for the rich. It is a crime happening in front of the American public right now.”
The Energy & Commerce Committee is tasked with cutting $880 billion in spending. Chairman Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) told colleagues they had found “north of $900 billion” in savings to offset costs in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”
