House Democrats launch effort to block SNAP and Medicaid changes

Published May 6, 2025 2:13pm ET



House Democrats are filing a discharge petition to prevent changes to Medicaid and food stamps in the Republican-led megabill to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda.

House Democratic leadership announced the petition, a legislative maneuver that could let the minority party outmaneuver House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), during a Tuesday press conference with the ranking members of the Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Budget committees.

The powerful committees, two of which oversee the programs, are tasked with finding enough offsets to satisfy fiscal hawks as the GOP builds its “one big beautiful” bill to codify Trump’s agenda. However, possible changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have been controversial for Republicans as they try to assure voters they can find $1.5 trillion in cuts without slashing benefits.

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