GOP Medicaid Reforms Slowed Growth Rather Than Cut Spending, Contrary to Democratic Claims
Source: Christopher Jacobs. "Democrats Claim GOP ‘Gutted’ Medicaid. Data Shows Opposite." February 20, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Democrats are wrong when they say Republicans cut Medicaid funding. Instead, he claims the data shows Medicaid spending is still going up every year, and Republicans only slowed down the rapid growth that happened under Biden.
Conclusion
Republicans did not 'gut' or 'cut' Medicaid as Democrats claim, but rather implemented reforms that merely slowed the growth of an unsustainably expanding program
Premises
- CBO data shows Medicaid will spend $7.124 trillion from 2026-2034, which is more than the $6.862 trillion estimated during Biden's last year
- Medicaid spending will continue to grow every single year over the coming decade, with 39% total growth from 2026-2036
- The Biden administration caused a massive Medicaid spending explosion of $817 billion (12%) through administrative expansions and mandates
- Republican reforms only undid Biden-era changes while making no explicit cuts to benefits for vulnerable populations (seniors, disabled, children)
- The 14% reduction in beneficiaries includes 1.5 million duplicate enrollees who shouldn't have had coverage in multiple states anyway
- Even after Republican reforms, costs per enrollee grew 16% in 2025, significantly more than CBO anticipated
Assumptions
- CBO data and projections are accurate and reliable
- Medicaid spending growth is inherently unsustainable and problematic
- Slowing growth is fundamentally different from making cuts
- Biden-era expansions were inappropriate policy overreach
- Duplicate enrollment represents fraud or waste rather than legitimate need