Hold onto your wallets, folks—House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) just dropped a bombshell about who’s tapping into America’s Medicaid system.
Breitbart reported that during a Sunday appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Johnson laid out a stark reality: more than 1.4 million non-citizens are currently enrolled in Medicaid, alongside millions of able-bodied Americans who could be working but aren’t.
Let’s start with the basics of what Johnson brought to the table during his CNN segment.
He made it crystal clear that Medicaid was never designed for non-U.S. citizens, but somehow, the system has ballooned to include over a million who don’t qualify by its original intent.
Johnson didn’t mince words, stating, “Medicaid is not intended for non-U.S. citizens.” That’s a hard truth for a program meant to safeguard the most vulnerable—think pregnant women, single moms, the disabled, and our elderly. Yet, here we are, stretching thin resources that should be laser-focused on those who need them most.
But wait, there’s more to this fiscal facepalm. Johnson pointed out another glaring issue: 4.8 million able-bodied individuals, specifically young men, are on Medicaid while opting out of work.
Turns out, choosing not to punch a clock when you’re perfectly capable isn’t just a personal decision—it’s a drain on a system already under strain.
“They are choosing not to work when they can,” Johnson said, calling it straight-up fraud. And let’s be honest, when resources are siphoned off by those gaming the system, it’s the truly needy who get shortchanged. That’s not compassion; that’s a policy failure begging for a fix.
Johnson’s mission here isn’t to slash and burn but to clean house. He stressed that the goal is to root out fraud, waste, and abuse—terms that should make every taxpayer sit up and listen. After all, shouldn’t a safety net actually catch the right people?
“We are not cutting Medicaid in this package,” Johnson assured viewers, pushing back against what he called rampant misinformation.
That’s a relief for those who genuinely rely on the program, but it also raises the stakes for ensuring every dollar is spent wisely.
Let’s circle back to those 1.4 million non-citizens on the rolls. It’s not about pointing fingers at individuals; it’s about asking how a system meant for America’s most vulnerable got so off track. Policies should have guardrails, not open gates.
Johnson doubled down on protecting the core of Medicaid’s mission. He emphasized that pregnant women, young mothers, the disabled, and seniors are the ones who must be prioritized. Anything less is a betrayal of why the program exists in the first place.
Now, consider those 4.8 million able-bodied folks opting out of work while on the dole. Johnson labeled this as “cheating the system,” and it’s hard to argue when you see the numbers. If you’re fit to work but won’t, should taxpayers foot your bill?
The broader point here is about stewardship of public funds. When fraud and abuse run unchecked, it’s not just a bureaucratic oops—it’s a slap in the face to every hardworking American paying into the system. We deserve better accountability, plain and simple.
Johnson’s remarks aren’t about punishing anyone; they’re about preserving a lifeline for those who can’t help themselves.
The policy push he’s championing aims to save resources for the truly deserving, not to prop up those who could stand on their own two feet.