'Preserves the integrity': Nebraska Rep. Bacon supports $500B in Medicaid cuts
By Bill Schammert, KETV
(April 29, 2025)
OMAHA, Neb.—As congressional Republicans look to preserve the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon said he's found $500 billion in cuts to Medicaid that he would support.
He said he's been through the proposal "line by line" with 12 other Republicans.
"The real friction here is how much we're going to cut and where we're cutting," Bacon said.
In an interview with KETV, Bacon specified three areas where he'd support cuts and used budget estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office:
) Including work requirements for able-bodied adults with no children, which would result in about $200 billion in savings.
) Removing undocumented migrants from Medicaid coverage, which would result in about $200 billion in savings.
) Requiring a yearly audit to ensure only qualified people are receiving Medicaid, which would result in about $100 billion in savings.
"I can live with that reform, and I think most people can," Bacon said. "I believe what we're doing preserves the integrity of Medicaid for people who need it and protects hospitals."
The initial budget proposal from the House of Representatives includes about $880 billion in Medicaid cuts.
"You're going to have to show me how any additional cuts do not impact the quality of care or what our hospitals get," he said.
According to data from Nebraska DHHS, about 360,000 Nebraskans use Medicaid.
The group Nebraska For Us said Bacon is switching his stance on the issue.
“Congressman Bacon’s public statements have been challenging to follow," state director Angie Lauritsen said in a statement. "First, he said he opposed Medicaid cuts. Now he’s open to slashing hundreds of billions of dollars from it. Which is it?”
Lauritsen cited anxiety over tariffs and the affordability of basic needs to avoid cuts to Medicaid.
"The last thing he should be doing is considering any cuts to a program that is a lifeline for taxpayers across our entire state," she said.
Bacon said he's not flip-flopping on his stance.
"What I said was that I'm not supporting cuts to the quality of care of Medicaid or the hospitals," he said. "So I don't consider this a cut to Medicaid, frankly."
After Bacon made national headlines for his comments about a "red line" on the $500 billion in cuts, he said he received a visit from the White House.
"Interestingly enough, the White House sent two emissaries over to my office to talk to me about this," Bacon said. "And they're actually in rough agreement because the President's also said he doesn't want to cut Medicaid. So we're sort of saying the same thing."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has actively campaigned against Bacon in Nebraska's purple District 2, immediately sent a statement about Bacon's comments on Tuesday.
“Coming to an ad near you: ‘Don Bacon wants to cut Medicaid,'" said spokesperson Viet Shelton.
According to Nebraska's congressional Republicans, the 2017 tax cuts lowered individual taxes by about 20% and saved Nebraskans an average of $1,600 per year.
Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood called preserving the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act one of the most important things Congress has to do.
"Failure is not an option," he said in a statement. "Most of this critical 2017 law is set to expire at the end of the year. Without action, automatic tax hikes will affect millions of Americans.
In order to preserve them, Bacon said they'll likely have to cut between $1 and $1.5 trillion from the budget.
House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to get this done by July 4.
