In response to Mike Johnson saying Republicans “have a plan” to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Republicans ‘have a plan’ to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — House Speaker Mike Johnson just said it himself. Johnson is ‘committing’ to seeing through Donald Trump’s dangerous threat to gut Americans’ hard-earned benefits and access to health care. No matter how the GOP dresses it up, the reality is they’re jumping at the opportunity to rip away critical programs so they can further line billionaires’ pockets.” 

MAGA House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed Republicans “have a plan” to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — just like Donald Trump called to do.  

Mike Johnson: “There’s two categories of spending in the federal government. Mandatory spending is on the programs Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, … it’s 73, 74% of spending, which is on autopilot, which is frightening. Ok, that’s something we have to address, and we have a plan to do it.” 

Mike Johnson: “I am committing that we will do that…” 

At Trump’s request, House Republicans already voted to cut Medicaid — ripping away health care from millions of Americans and devastating seniors and rural folks — to fund another round of tax handouts for the ultra-wealthy. 

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “CBO’s early estimates show that at least 13.7 million people would lose coverage and become uninsured because of the Medicaid cuts and the ACA marketplace restrictions in this committee legislation, as well as the fact that the budget legislation does not extend expiring marketplace premium tax credit improvements.”

Politico: “The House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a 30-to-24 party-line vote, advanced the health care section of the GOP’s sweeping tax bill that would slash Medicaid spending by hundreds of billions of dollars.” 

West Virginia Watch: “Medicaid cuts could hurt older adults who rely on home care, nursing homes” 

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families: “Cuts to Medicaid Will Shift Costs to Families, Providers and Will Be Especially Harmful to Rural Communities”

Senate Republicans are also eyeing Medicare cuts and confirmed Trump blessed possible cuts to the program, which provides health care for over 66 million Americans. 

Politico: “Senate Republicans are eyeing possible Medicare provisions to help offset the cost of their megabill … 

“Senate Republicans are now seriously considering [Medicare cuts] as they race to pass their party-line tax and spending package before a self-imposed July 4 deadline. The idea came up in closed-door meetings this week and, crucially, some Republicans believe President Donald Trump is on board with touching the program”  

Axios: “Senate GOP eyes Medicare cuts with Trump’s blessing”

Trump has already moved to gut the Social Security Administration, threatening hard-earned benefits for millions of Americans amid a 50-year low on staffing.

Washington Post: “Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down”

Axios: “An internal memo from the Social Security Administration proposes changes to its phone service that could derail the benefits application process for many Americans. …

“The draft of the memo viewed by Axios says the proposed limitations will be ‘significant’ for those living in rural areas in particular.” 

NextGov: “At least five of the eight regional commissioners whose offices oversee and support the agency’s frontline offices across the country are leaving, according to a source familiar with the agency and an SSA employee not authorized to speak on the record. …

“Their departures come amid rumors of impending staff cuts at SSA, where the workforce is already at a 50-year low and has toiled amid a customer service crisis born of lack of funding.”

Trump has a long history of attacking Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — including trying to cut the programs every year of his first term. 

Washington Post: “His avowed stance, however, is at odds with Trump’s own record as president: Each of his White House budget proposals included cuts to Social Security and Medicare programs.”

In his FY18, FY19, FY20, and FY21 budgets, Trump repeatedly proposed hundreds of billions in cuts to Medicaid.

Vox: “Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. His 2020 budget cuts all 3.”

Forbes: “Trump Floats ‘Cutting’ Spending On Entitlements Like Social Security And Medicare”

Rolling Stone: “Trump Floats Cuts to Social Security and Medicare”

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