Capitol Hill Showdown: RFK Jr. Takes on Medicaid Myths
Today on Capitol Hill, the atmosphere turned electric as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a piercing critique of Democrat Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA), challenging the persistent Democratic narrative surrounding “Medicaid cuts.”
This verbal sparring match unfolded during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing at 1:30 p.m. ET, where RFK Jr. presented the White House’s budget proposal linked to the “Big Beautiful Bill”—a substantial $500 million initiative aimed at fulfilling his ambitious Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
However, the exchange took a pointed turn when Rep. Harder attempted to gain political traction by alleging that the administration was slashing Medicaid and neglecting the most vulnerable citizens. RFK Jr. was quick to counter with hard facts.
Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA):
About half of my district relies on Medicaid. The budget currently under discussion in the House would leave 50,000 individuals in my community without any health insurance. Secretary Kennedy, why do you believe a community like mine doesn’t deserve access to the same essential health care that Medicaid provides, which you have benefited from?RFK Jr.:
I absolutely believe in that; that’s the core purpose of the Medicaid program.Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA):
Do you oppose the cuts being proposed to Medicaid at this time?RFK Jr.:
I’m not sure if you grasp this or if you’re merely repeating Democratic talking points. The so-called cuts to Medicaid are aimed at eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. Here’s what that means: thanks to the Doge initiative, we’ve identified around 8 million people who would be impacted—specifically, a million individuals claiming Medicaid benefits in multiple states. That’s illegal. It’s theft. You can’t do that. Additionally, there are another million who are receiving benefits under both Obamacare and Medicaid.Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA):
Mr. Secretary, that has no relevance to the budget currently proposed in the House.RFK Jr.:
Those are the only cuts being made. Period.Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA):
That’s simply untrue.RFK Jr.:
Yes, it is. We also have another million undocumented immigrants. Just yesterday, we announced a policy: we will no longer cover undocumented individuals. And guess what Gavin Newsom did this morning? He declared, “We’re going to remove all undocumented individuals from California’s Medicaid rolls because the federal government won’t be funding them anymore.” So much for compassion.
WATCH:
Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA): “Do you disagree with the cuts that are being proposed for Medicaid right now?”
HHS Secretary RFK Jr: “I don’t know if you understand this or whether you’re just mouthing the democratic talking points, cuts to Medicaid are fraud, waste and… pic.twitter.com/fy6fjb8GXG
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) May 14, 2025
