LANSING, Mich. (May 20, 2025) — During a rare Sunday committee meeting, Republicans on the U.S. House Budget Committee voted to advance legislation that will make massive cuts to Medicaid, a program that one in four Michiganders depend on for health care coverage. This vote comes after months of work from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who have been hellbent on pushing reckless, indiscriminate budget cuts in order to afford a $4 trillion tax break for the wealthiest of Americans. Standing up for working families and seniors, state Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) led Senate Democrats today in adopting a resolution urging the President and the U.S. Congress to change course and reject any proposal that would strip health care access to those in need.
“Let’s be clear: gutting Medicaid to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires is a direct assault on the health and dignity of Michiganders,” said Sen. Hertel. “Congress’ proposal isn’t about fiscal responsibility — it’s about warped priorities. As elected officials, we should be able to put politics and partisanship aside to ensure our most vulnerable have access to basic health care. As we see the needs of wealthy special interests take priority over working families, I’ll stand up and fight any way I can to stop these cruel cuts and protect the care Michigan deserves.”
Since the program was first established in 1965, Medicaid has received widespread support from Americans on both sides of the political aisle with a recent KFF poll indicating that 77% of the public, including 81% of Independents and 63% of Republicans favorably view the program. As a result, blue and red states — with assistance from the federal government — have opted to expand their programming to reach underserved populations such as pregnant mothers, newborns, and individuals with disabilities. Here in Michigan, the effort to expand Medicaid was spearheaded by former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who said the program, “makes sense for the physical and fiscal health of Michigan.”
“You don’t realize how blessed you are until the rug is pulled out from you,” said Rose, a widow and mother of two from Grosse Pointe. “Our family had a successful life before illness changed everything, and now, Medicaid is essential for my family to stay afloat. I never thought I’d be here, but without Medicaid, I don’t know how my children and I would survive. It only takes one moment for everything to change, and every Michigan family deserves to know that if the worst happens, there’s a safety net there to catch them.”
This bipartisan support reflects the undeniable value of a program that more than 2.6 million Michiganders rely on for critical health care. But Medicaid’s reach goes far beyond those it directly serves, with Michigan workers, hospitals, and patients also benefiting from the program. Across the state, Medicaid provides essential stability and support for over 217,000 hospital employees, which boosts the personal spending power for Michigan residents by about $2.3 billion each year, resulting in an estimated $150 million in tax revenue annually.
The Medicaid cuts Washington Republicans are proposing would have a devastating impact on the health of residents and the economy. The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services estimates that nearly 750,000 Michiganders would lose coverage — largely due to burdensome administrative hurdles and bureaucratic red tape the proposal seeks to enact. Additionally, without the influx of federal Medicaid funding, hospitals would be forced to downsize or close entirely, laying off workers and forcing patients to travel farther and wait longer to receive care.
“Medicaid is a crucial lifeline for millions in Michigan, including children, seniors, and low-income families,” said Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit). “With nearly 70% of our Medicaid funding coming from federal sources, Michigan families depend on these tax dollars — our tax dollars — coming back for this purpose. Cutting this funding isn’t just a trivial budgetary choice. It’s a choice that will be a death sentence for millions of Americans, including countless Michiganders who rely on the program for essential health care access. As Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services budget subcommittee, I will continue to do everything I can to protect access to affordable health care and ensure no Michigander is left behind.”
The proposed cuts would also blow a $2 billion hole into the state budget, as 70% of the state’s spending on Medicaid comes from federal sources. This would force state leaders to make difficult decisions on what to fund: Michiganders’ health care or education, roads, and public safety.
Throughout their time in the Majority, Sen. Hertel and his Democratic colleagues have been working to expand access to quality, affordable health care for Michiganders. As Chair of the Health Policy Committee, Sen. Hertel was instrumental in codifying popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act into state law and has worked to pass legislation to establish a state-based health insurance exchange and a prescription drug affordability board in Michigan.
To learn more about how cuts to Medicaid would impact Michigan’s people and communities, click here.