House Democrats are gearing up for a “Day of Action” on Tuesday to highlight possible GOP cuts to Medicaid in their districts.
Democratic leadership in the House is searching for every way to counter the trifecta in Washington as President Donald Trump continues pushing his aggressive agenda.
The “Day of Action” is the latest effort from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to find messaging that reaches the public after the party’s big loss in 2024. Medicaid has been a large area of messaging for Democrats as the 119th Congress amps up, serving as a preview for what issues will be highlighted in the 2026 midterm elections.
The concerns surrounding Medicaid come after the GOP budget bill was passed last month. It includes $880 billion in committee cuts that will likely affect Medicaid.
“We are all going to have to come together to oppose the effort to rip away healthcare from the American people, which is why Democrats on Tuesday across the country are having a Medicaid Day of Action in blue states, purple states, and red states to save Medicaid for the American people,” Jeffries said on MSNBC.
Members from both chambers are planning events nationwide following Jeffries’s instruction. These events will be tailored to each member’s district and highlight how these possible Medicaid cuts would affect that region.
Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI) is gearing up for a press conference with Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) at Butler Hospital to talk about the effect of cuts on behavioral and mental health.
Jeffries hopes Tuesday can serve as a day of unity for a party that has been in disarray recently. Following the feud last week between House and Senate Republicans over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — along with nine other Senate Democrats — voting to pass the GOP government funding bill to avert a shutdown, this day highlights an issue the party is united on.
“Chuck and I agree on the overwhelming majority of issues moving forward, including our effort to oppose the largest potential Medicaid cut in American history. And we’re all going to have to come together, House Democrats, Senate Democrats, governors, elected officials, advocacy organizations, civil rights groups, [and] the democracy reform groups who are doing a tremendous job stopping the Trump administration in court,” Jeffries said.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) has hosted a handful of events focused on Medicaid since heading home for recess. The Florida liberal held a coffee event on Sunday that served as a mini town hall focused on Medicaid and federal benefit programs and addressing fears from constituents in Central Florida. He also hosted a press conference Monday in Tallahassee with state legislators to discuss the effects of Medicaid cuts on Floridians. This press conference came as Florida is one of 10 states that didn’t expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) will hold a press conference Tuesday morning with Protect Our Care and plans to hold a town hall that evening.
These events and town halls come after Republicans were warned by National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) to stop holding in-person town hall meetings following the backlash Republicans have seen at town halls this year, reported Politico. Not all Republican members have backed down from town halls, though.
The Democratic House Majority Pac slammed Hudson in a statement on X, saying, “If you’re going to have the audacity to raise prices and rip away health care from millions of Americans, you should at least have the courage to face your constituents. House Republicans are cowards.”
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This is not the first messaging push Democrats have done for Medicaid in response to GOP bills. Jeffries also held a press conference before the contentious budget bill vote last month to outline the effects of potential Medicaid cuts, including three testimonies from Americans who would be affected by Medicaid and SNAP cuts.
Republican leadership has denied the $880 billion in committee cuts will come from Medicaid after some House GOP members were also concerned with possible cuts to the popular program.