Following Trump’s OMB freezing trillions of dollars in federal funds, including tax dollars that go to Medicaid, House Republicans are refusing to stand up to him and defend the people in their districts. While one Republican member refused to provide a comment, many are either justifying or full on embracing the freeze.
“These Republicans are going to have to face voters one way or the other next November, so they better have a damn good reason as to why they were okay with their constituents being threatened with cuts to affordable health care, early childhood education, and nutrition and food assistance for low-income women and children,” said American Bridge spokesperson Philip Shulman.
See what representatives in some of the most competitive districts had to say:
Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08): After squeaking by to win his first term, Evans is already trying to deceive his constituents, putting out a video where he claimed the OMB cuts would not impact programs like Medicaid. States across the country saw their Medicaid portals shutdown yesterday due to the frozen funds. What’s worse — he is agreeing with Rep. Lauren Boebert that the freeze is necessary.
Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08): The freshman representative copied Gabe Evans in claiming that programs like Medicaid would not be impacted, despite the portal being shut down in Pennsylvania and across the country. Furthermore, Bresnahan tried to justify the freeze that could cut access to affordable health care, early childhood education, and nutrition and food assistance for low-income women and children by saying the “pause was designed to give agencies time to ensure programs are being executed and government funding is spent in accordance with the President’s policies.”
Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07): Fresh into his first term, it seems Barrett doesn’t know what’s happening in his own district. He claimed that the freeze would “not disrupt school and child care funding, health care for seniors or low-income families…” despite one Head Start provider in his district saying “they were ending their services until further notice.” In addition, the Medicaid portal was shut down in Michigan.
Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03): When asked about the freeze, Nunn called it was “necessary for Washington to reform government spending.” Nunn supports extending the Trump tax cuts that would give billionaires a massive tax handout.
Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02): Instead of saying the freeze should be a non-starter, Bacon craftily played the political game that has kept him in office for five terms, saying instead he hoped the freeze was “short-lived.”
Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06): Ciscomani would not provide a comment when asked about the freeze.
Rep. David Valadao (CA-22): Similar to Bacon, Valadao is refusing to stand up against the draconian freeze, saying it “depends on the specifics” as to whether he would be concerned about the impact.
Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01): Zinke justified the freeze by saying, in part, “It’s a fair proposition that the taxpayers know where the money goes” and that it was “prudent and necessary.”
Published: Jan 29, 2025 | Last Modified: Feb 3, 2025