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Hochul, Jeffries warn GOP health bill would cut billions from New York’s Medicaid funding
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Catalina Gonella
Published Jun 1, 2025
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Courtesy Gov. Kathy Hochul's office
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jun 1, 2025
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Gov. Kathy Hochul rallied in Brooklyn on Sunday against steep federal healthcare cuts approved in a budget bill passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last month.
Hochul joined U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries from Brooklyn and healthcare workers at Interfaith Medical Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where they criticized what they call the “One Big Ugly Bill.” The bill is a response to President Donald Trump’s call for a “big, beautiful bill” that would reduce federal spending and cut taxes.
The legislation, backed by all New York Republicans in the House, would slash Medicaid and Essential Plan funding, resulting in a projected $13.5 billion loss annually for New York’s healthcare system, according to the state Department of Health.
Hochul said the cuts would leave 1.5 million New Yorkers uninsured and devastate hospitals and clinics statewide.
“We’re at war to protect our people, and I’m sick and tired of Washington thinking that we can be the collateral damage,” Hochul said. “In their weaponization of programs that we’ve relied on for nearly 60 years and cut them so they can cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires.”
Trump administration officials defended the legislation on Sunday talk shows, saying it would help reduce the deficit while preserving key programs. White House budget head Russ Vought said the bill would “preserve and protect” Medicaid, while making it “more common sense.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also dismissed warnings of cost increases as “alarmist.”
The bill, which still needs Senate approval before potentially heading to Trump’s desk, would also impose new Medicaid eligibility requirements. That includes work reporting rules and additional verification hurdles, which state officials said would increase administrative costs while reducing access to care.
Jeffries called on Republicans to reject the measure, warning of wide-ranging consequences for patients and healthcare providers.
“Children will be hurt, families will be hurt, seniors will be hurt,” he said. “People with disabilities will be hurt. It’s one big ugly bill that they're trying to jam down the throats of the American people, it’s unconscionable.”
Healthcare workers at the rally said the bill could force hospitals to close, eliminate jobs and reduce access to essential services, particularly in vulnerable communities. Interfaith Medical Center employee Michelle Ned said the facility wouldn’t survive without Medicaid and Medicare dollars.
“Ninety-five percent of the patients that come in our emergency room, they come with Medicaid and Medicare,” Ned said. “That simply means that this hospital will not be able to survive without it. This is no time to joke. This is no time to play. We need Medicare funds and we need it now.”
NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz has also said the city’s public hospitals would likely have to cut specialty care like cardiology if Medicaid funding is slashed. Speaking at a City Council hearing last month, he warned that without insurance coverage, there’s simply “nobody to bill,” and services would have to be prioritized by urgency and cost-effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Goldman held a separate rally outside the Staten Island district office of Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who voted in favor of the bill.
Goldman accused Malliotakis of breaking her promise not to support cuts to Medicaid, pointing to a letter she sent to House Republican leaders in April saying she “cannot and will not” vote for any measure that reduces coverage for vulnerable populations.
“As a direct result of her vote, 51,984 Staten Islanders will lose their health insurance,” Goldman said in a statement. “Hospitals in her district will lose critical funding and community health centers will shutter.”
Malliotakis did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
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Health and Science
Politics
new york state
Catalina Gonella
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