House adds Medicaid work requirements, EV mandate rollback to Trump agenda bill
House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive plan late on Sunday aimed at reining in Medicaid coverage and dismantling former President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate, among other significant measures. The Energy & Commerce Committee, with oversight over federal health programs, telecommunications, and energy, was tasked with identifying over $880 billion in spending cuts to offset other priorities in President Donald Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda.
Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., announced to House Republicans during a private call on Sunday evening that the panel had identified more than $900 billion in savings, exceeding the initial target. This was a major win for House GOP leaders who faced criticism from Democrats over proposed cuts to welfare programs like Medicaid. While some fiscal hawks in the House GOP Conference had pushed for deeper cuts to Medicaid, moderate Republicans successfully advocated to avoid drastic reductions, shielding themselves from potential Democratic backlash.
The legislation introduced a new 80-hour-per-week work requirement for certain able-bodied adults aged 19 through 64 receiving Medicaid. It also imposed restrictions on states’ use of funds for their expanded Medicaid populations, particularly those covering illegal immigrants. States with expanded Medicaid populations would be required to conduct eligibility checks every six months to prevent abuse of the system.
In a significant move, the bill aimed to eliminate the Biden administration’s EV mandate, which sought to have EVs constitute two-thirds of all new car sales by 2032. This decision was estimated to save $105 billion. Additionally, the legislation rescinded unspent funds from various green energy tax programs established through the Inflation Reduction Act, although it fell short of a complete repeal of the IRA.
On the energy front, the bill advanced Trump’s non-green energy objectives by implementing a streamlined natural gas permitting process. Applicants seeking permits would be required to pay a fee to expedite the approval process. The legislation also included a provision making certain large abortion providers ineligible for Medicaid funding, a measure championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson and supported by anti-abortion organizations.
The Energy & Commerce Committee’s legislation formed a significant portion of Republicans’ efforts to identify $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion in spending cuts through the budget reconciliation process. With a slim three-vote majority in the House, Republicans aimed to pass the bill without Democratic support, leveraging reconciliation to advance Trump’s policy agenda on key issues like border security, taxes, and defense.
As committees work on specific components of the bill, GOP leaders hope to present a comprehensive legislative package to Trump by the Fourth of July. The budget reconciliation process, which lowers the Senate’s passage threshold to a simple majority, enables the majority party to push through significant legislation without bipartisan support. By leveraging this mechanism, Republicans seek to enact transformative policy changes aligned with Trump’s priorities.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, leads coverage of the House of Representatives. With previous bylines at Daily Mail and CBS News, Elkind brings a wealth of experience to her reporting on legislative developments shaping the political landscape. Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
