House GOP Bill Proposes Historic Medicaid and SNAP Cuts, Expanding Work Requirements

The House of Representatives has passed a budget bill that includes unprecedented cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), potentially reducing or eliminating benefits for millions of low-income Americans.

The legislation, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” proposes slashing Medicaid spending by approximately $700 billion and SNAP by $300 billion — the largest reductions in the programs' histories. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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“Bottom line is, a lot of people will lose benefits, including people who are entitled to these benefits and who are not the target population of this bill,” said Jennifer Wagner, director of Medicaid eligibility enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

To offset tax cuts primarily benefiting higher-income individuals, the bill introduces new work requirements for Medicaid recipients covered under the Affordable Care Act expansion. These individuals would be required to engage in at least 80 hours of qualifying activities per month, with enforcement beginning as early as December 31, 2026. States would be allowed to implement the policy sooner.

Health policy experts raised concerns over the accelerated timeline. “It will lead to the greatest cuts of enrollment in Medicaid,” Wagner said. The bill bypasses the typical rulemaking process, limiting public input and preparation time for states.

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The legislation also mandates more frequent Medicaid eligibility checks — every six months rather than annually — which Jennifer Tolbert of KFF said could further reduce access to care. “They may lose access to the very treatments and services that are enabling them to work,” Tolbert noted.

For SNAP, work requirements would expand to adults up to age 64 and some households with children, while states would face new limits on their ability to grant exemptions. According to CBPP, the changes could lead to millions losing food assistance.