February 19, 2025legislativehealthcare policyfederal budgetentitlement programslegislative processhealthcarefiscal policylegislative process
House Budget Committee Targets Medicare in Reconciliation Despite Trump Pledge
The House Budget Committee advanced a reconciliation framework that included Medicare spending reductions, contradicting Trump's repeated campaign pledge not to cut Medicare or Social Security. Committee Republicans argued the reductions were structural reforms rather than benefit cuts. Democrats and AARP immediately challenged the framing, warning that the changes would reduce benefits for tens of millions of seniors.