President Donald Trump warned lawmakers to not “f— with Medicaid” ahead of a 1 a.m. EDT May 21 House Rules Committee vote on the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which features extensive reductions to Medicaid and other healthcare policies, The Hill reported May 20.
President Trump’s remarks came after a May 20 meeting with House Republicans urging them to back the bill.
Several Republican lawmakers had pushed for deeper cuts to Medicaid, which has become a key sticking point in negotiations as fiscal conservatives seek cuts to help offset the bill’s tax provisions, according to the report. The bill also faces pushback from centrist Republicans in high-tax states like New York and California, who are advocating for changes to the $30,000 cap on state and local tax deductions.
“I think it was a meeting of love,” President Trump said, according to the report. “And there were a couple of things we talked about specifically where some people felt a little bit one way or the other. Not a big deal.”
As of 11:15 a.m. EST, lawmakers were still debating the legislation in a House Rules Committee hearing that is expected to continue well into the day, according to Reuters. If the bill clears the committee, House Speaker Mike Johnson could bring it to a floor vote as early as May 21.
Should the package pass the House, it would move to the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. A Senate vote is not expected until next month, as Congress is set for a weeklong break beginning next week.
The legislation, advanced by the House Budget Committee in a narrow 17-16 vote on May 18, reflects key components of President Trump’s policy agenda — including the extension of tax cuts, increased border security measures and significant changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
