Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) sparked backlash this week after suggesting that as many as 35 million Americans should be removed from Medicaid rolls, arguing that the program has grown far beyond its intended purpose.
During a Monday appearance on Newsmax, host Marc Lotter raised concerns about the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill, a spending proposal backed by former President Donald Trump. Lotter pointed out that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) opposed the bill, citing its apparent contradiction of Trump’s previous promise not to cut Medicaid.
Mullin pushed back, insisting that the proposed changes wouldn’t affect those the program was originally meant to support.
“We’re not cutting Medicaid for those that Medicaid was designed for,” Mullin said. “There are 35 million people who live below the poverty line inside the United States. There are over 70 million people signed up for Medicaid.”
The Oklahoma senator went on to argue that roughly half of cthe urrent Medicaid enrollees are not truly eligible.
“Now, you’re going to tell me there’s not room to make cuts to actually have it in place, Medicaid in place for those that it was actually designed for,” Mullin continued. “There’s plenty of room there.”
Mullin’s comments come amid renewed Republican efforts to rein in government spending, particularly on social programs. However, his remarks appear to downplay the potential consequences of such sweeping cuts. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that more than 10 million people could lose health coverage if the proposed legislation becomes law.
The senator did not provide details on how eligibility should be determined or what specific criteria would justify removal from Medicaid. His comments have drawn criticism from advocates who say that many Americans who rely on Medicaid, including working families, people with disabilities, and seniors, could be caught in the crossfire of budgetary reforms.
As debate continues in Washington over the future of healthcare and entitlement spending, Mullin’s remarks signal a growing willingness among some lawmakers to reshape Medicaid, even at the cost of coverage for millions. The White House has yet to issue an official response to the latest version of the spending bill.
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