As House Republicans scramble to fund a sweeping legislative package designed to advance former President Donald Trump\u2019s political agenda\u2014including massive increases in military spending\u2014they\u2019re once again turning to one of their most familiar targets: Medicaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a closed-door meeting Monday night, Republican lawmakers floated a new proposal that would impose \u201cper capita caps\u201d<\/strong> on federal Medicaid contributions in states that expanded the program under the Affordable Care Act. This move would drastically alter how Medicaid is funded, effectively shifting the burden of rising health care costs to state governments\u2014and threatening coverage for millions of low-income Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The plan, currently under review by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is one of several being considered to offset the costs of Trump\u2019s so-called \u201cbig, beautiful bill,\u201d which includes over $150 billion in Pentagon funding, $25 billion for an unproven missile defense initiative called the Golden Dome<\/em>, and $5 billion for militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s be clear: this is not a neutral budget decision\u2014it\u2019s a political choice. A choice to fund weapons over wellness<\/a><\/strong>, to prioritize defense contractors over disabled children, and to fortify borders while gutting the social safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Republican plan would allow federal funding to be capped per Medicaid enrollee. States that experience rising enrollment due to economic downturns, public health crises, or population growth would be forced to cover the gap on their own\u2014or make cuts to services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even more concerning is the idea of a \u201crainy day fund,\u201d<\/strong> which encourages states to bank \u201csavings\u201d from these caps\u2014potentially incentivizing them to offer fewer services or deny care to stay under budget. The federal government may even be allowed to claw back a portion of those funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If implemented, this would mark one of the most significant rollbacks of Medicaid in its 60-year history. And it\u2019s being proposed not to reduce debt or improve efficiency, but to pay for one of the largest defense spending increases in decades<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what the current Trump-backed package includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The message is unmistakable: people must sacrifice their health, housing, and livelihoods to fund a national security strategy rooted in militarization and fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Peace Economy Project, we reject the idea that safety comes from missiles and militarized borders. Real security comes from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutting Medicaid to fund war profiteers is not just fiscally irresponsible\u2014it\u2019s morally indefensible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\ud83e\ude7a A Dangerous Trade-Off<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\uddee The Cost of the \u201cMegabill\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f Peace Is Public Investment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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