Trump Open to Medicaid Work Requirements Amid GOP Push for Spending Cuts

WASHINGTON, May 4 — President Donald Trump is showing signs he may support work requirements for Medicaid recipients, as House Republicans seek deep spending cuts to balance the cost of extending his signature 2017 tax cuts.

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Jason Smith, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, told Fox News Sunday that Trump wants to see “efficiencies and reforms” in Medicaid and Medicare—but he’s not looking to slash benefits outright. One of the reforms being discussed? Requiring able-bodied adults on Medicaid to work.

“The president has been very clear—he does not want to cut benefits for individuals on Medicaid and Medicare. He wants to create efficiencies and reforms. He shows an openness to work requirements,” Smith said.

A Costly Tax Plan, A $2 Trillion Dilemma

House Republicans are pushing to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, but there’s a major catch: it could cost an estimated $5.8 trillion over the next decade, adding to an already staggering $36 trillion national debt.

To help cover the price tag, Republicans are looking at massive spending cuts, including to Medicaid—a vital program that currently provides healthcare coverage for 83 million low-income Americans.

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The target? Up to $2 trillion in federal cuts over the next ten years.

What Work Requirements Could Mean

Supporters of the work requirement idea say it could streamline the system and reduce fraud. But opponents argue it would do more harm than good.

According to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, most Medicaid recipients already work full- or part-time, and many who don’t are disabled or full-time caregivers.

The Urban Institute, another nonpartisan think tank, estimates that as many as 5.2 million adults aged 19–55 could lose Medicaid coverage if a work requirement is federally enforced.

Representative Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, didn’t mince words when speaking on MSNBC’s The Weekend:

“You're talking about really ripping away healthcare for millions of Americans—for seniors who are receiving skilled nursing, for working families, for children.”

A Broader GOP Push: Food Stamps Also in the Crosshairs

Medicaid isn’t the only program facing potential changes. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps, already has work requirements for some recipients. But House Republicans are considering expanding those rules further to shrink agricultural spending, aligning with broader budget plans.

What About the Rich?

Fox News host Shannon Bream also asked Smith whether the proposed tax bill might hike taxes for high-income earners. Smith’s response focused on middle America.

“There's no problem to eliminate loopholes that the wealthy have benefited from,” he said, emphasizing that “working-class Americans shouldn't be paying taxes on tips.”