House Speaker Mike Johnson's assertion: Work or Lose Coverage

House Speaker Mike Johnson defends healthcare cuts with personal responsibility rhetoric as experts warn of mass coverage loss

Hey Small Biters,

House Speaker Mike Johnson has sparked intense backlash following remarks defending Medicaid cuts included in the recently passed House spending bill. Johnson claimed that recipients who lose their coverage under new work requirements would be “making a choice” not to comply. His comments came as Republicans advance sweeping legislation that ties Medicaid eligibility to employment documentation—a policy shift that could remove millions from the healthcare rolls.

The legislation, branded by Republicans as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” narrowly passed the House last week. It aims to cut government spending by requiring “able-bodied” adults without dependents to work at least 20 hours per week or be engaged in a training or volunteer program to maintain Medicaid eligibility. If they don’t, they risk losing coverage.

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Johnson insisted that the policy isn’t about taking healthcare away, but about restoring “dignity and personal responsibility.” He argued that individuals who lose coverage under these rules will have “made a decision not to comply.” But critics, including public health advocates and medical organizations, argue the bill imposes harmful, unrealistic hurdles for millions of Americans living near or below the poverty line.