Fact Check: House Republicans Voted for the Largest Medicaid Cut in U.S. History
What We Know
On May 22, 2025, House Republicans passed a budget reconciliation bill known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) with a narrow vote of 215-214. This legislation includes significant cuts to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), totaling approximately $863.4 billion over the next ten years, according to updated estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (Georgetown University). The CBO also projected that these cuts would lead to an increase of 7.8 million uninsured individuals by 2034 due to the provisions included in the bill (Georgetown University).
The proposed cuts are described as the largest in the history of the Medicaid program, which has been in place for over 60 years. While the final version of the bill did not include some of the more extreme cuts initially discussed, it still represents a substantial reduction in funding for a program that serves millions of low-income Americans (Penn LDI).
Analysis
The claim that House Republicans voted for the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history is supported by multiple credible sources. The CBO's estimates are a key piece of evidence, as they provide a non-partisan analysis of the financial implications of the bill. The fact that the cuts amount to $863.4 billion over ten years is significant, especially when considering the historical context of Medicaid funding.
Furthermore, the analysis from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families highlights the potential consequences of these cuts, including the disenrollment of millions from Medicaid. The Urban Institute's research indicates that similar work reporting requirements proposed in the bill could lead to disenrollment of 5.2 million individuals, which reinforces the claim of substantial cuts and their impact on coverage (Georgetown University).
While some sources, like Mother Jones and Penn LDI, emphasize the historical significance of these cuts, they also note that public support for the bill is low, suggesting a disconnect between political action and public opinion. This context is important for understanding the political ramifications of the vote.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that "House Republicans voted for the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history" is True. The evidence presented from reliable sources, including the CBO and various health policy analyses, confirms that the cuts included in the House-passed reconciliation bill are unprecedented in scale and will have significant implications for Medicaid beneficiaries across the country.
