No, Trump and Lombardo aren’t “cutting” Medicaid — Here’s the real story

By Erica Neely  

Nevada News and Views

If you’ve heard the left yelling that President Trump and Gov. Joe Lombardo are slashing Medicaid, take a deep breath.

The truth is a whole lot different from what some Democrats and media pundits are trying to spin.

They want you to believe Republicans are pulling the rug out from under families, seniors, and low-income Nevadans.

But here’s the thing: Nobody is cutting Medicaid benefits for people who truly need them.

What’s happening is about making the system work better, cost less, and help those who actually qualify.

What’s Really Going On?

This all stems from the new federal law — nicknamed the One Big Beautiful Bill.

It’s a sweeping reform package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, aiming to shrink the size of the bloated federal government and give more control back to the states.

But as with any big reform, there’s some belt-tightening involved.

At a recent National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Boston, Nevada State Sen. Fabian Doñate (D) claimed that the new law might force state lawmakers to cut Medicaid services or limit eligibility.

The media ran with that, framing it as heartless Republicans taking away healthcare.

But let’s be clear: the federal law isn’t forcing anyone to cut anything.

It’s putting states in charge of their own budgets — and that’s exactly how it should be.

Nevada’s Budget Priorities

Gov. Joe Lombardo has said he won’t raise taxes — period. And thank goodness.

Families and small businesses in Nevada are already feeling the squeeze from inflation, gas prices, and rising housing costs.

The last thing they need is a bigger bill from Carson City.

So what happens when costs go up but you refuse to raise taxes?

You do what every responsible household does: you prioritize. You make choices. You stop wasting money and focus on what matters most.

That’s not a “cut.” That’s called budgeting.

What Could Change?

Democrats like Doñate are floating scary scenarios about “cutting services” or “dropping people” from Medicaid.

But what they’re really upset about is having to make adult decisions now that Washington isn’t writing blank checks.

Let’s be honest. For years, states used federal COVID money to paper over problems in Medicaid.

They boosted payments to providers and expanded coverage to groups not originally intended to be on the rolls.

That emergency money is drying up. Now it’s time to face reality.

Under the new law, states will no longer be allowed to game the system by taxing hospitals and recycling that money back into Medicaid.

Some states — including Nevada — will also have to start checking eligibility more often and asking able-bodied adults without kids to work a few hours a week to keep their benefits.

In other words, reforms are meant to keep the program strong for the people who really need it — not to punish anyone.

No One Is Getting “Kicked Off” Just Because

Critics love to shout that thousands will “lose coverage.”

But what they don’t mention is that many of those folks were never truly eligible in the first place.

During the pandemic, states were told not to remove anyone from Medicaid, even if their income increased or they moved out of state.

That’s not sustainable.

Work requirements and regular eligibility checks will help trim the fat without hurting the people Medicaid was designed to help — the poor, the disabled, and the elderly.

Medicaid is one of the biggest line items in state budgets.

If we want to keep it running without bankrupting the rest of the system, some reforms are necessary.

President Trump and Gov. Lombardo are simply saying: Let’s run it smarter, not bigger.

Nevada Democrats can choose to make smart adjustments or try to scare voters into thinking Republicans are heartless. But facts are stubborn things.

Nobody’s cutting Medicaid. They’re cutting waste, fraud, and bloat.

If Democrats like Sen. Doñate want to have a serious conversation about how to responsibly fund Medicaid in Nevada without raising taxes, great.

But if they’re just looking for political talking points, voters deserve to know the truth.

President Trump and Gov. Lombardo are doing what they were elected to do: protect taxpayers, keep promises, and make government work for the people — not the other way around.

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Erica Neely is a grassroots advocate, small business owner, director, community leader, and founder of the Hispanic Latin Alliance. Deeply rooted in family values, she is passionate about empowering her community and driving meaningful change.