Ledger · Second term · № 239

We're not cutting Medicaid

Broken
“We're not doing anything with Medicaid... we're not cutting it, we're cutting waste, fraud and abuse.”
Promised
, Address to a joint session of Congress, and repeated statements through spring 2025
Re-promised
12 times with a fresh deadline
Topic
Health care
Era
Second term

What happened

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Trump signed July 4, 2025 cut roughly $715–$880 billion from federal health spending over ten years through Medicaid work requirements, more frequent eligibility checks and provider-tax limits. CBO projected roughly 10–17 million more uninsured; ACA marketplace enrollment fell 1.4 million (24.2M to 22.8M) by early 2026. Reporting indicated Trump had to be told by a House member that the bill did in fact 'touch Medicaid.'

Sources

  1. Here are the times Trump has said he wouldn't cut Medicaid ABC News, May 20, 2025
  2. Medicaid cuts in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' will leave millions uninsured, threaten rural hospitals CNBC, Jul 1, 2025
  3. Trump on Fourth of July signs 'One Big Beautiful Bill' to implement his agenda NPR, Jul 3, 2025
  4. 200 Days of Trump: Promises Made, Promises Broken Democratic National Committee, Aug 7, 2025