During a recent press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was unable to provide immediate clarity on whether Medicaid would be impacted by the federal funding freeze announced by President Donald Trump. The funding freeze, outlined in a memo issued on Monday, is set to affect all federal grants and loans, potentially impacting trillions of dollars in government spending and potentially leading to the suspension of public programs that serve millions of Americans.
Leavitt stated that the purpose of the funding freeze is to ensure that all federal expenditures align with the president's agenda. While the memo explicitly exempts Social Security and Medicare benefits, as well as direct assistance to individuals, it does not specifically mention Medicaid. Medicaid is a crucial program that offers health insurance to low-income individuals and is primarily funded by the federal government, although it is administered by states.
When questioned about the potential impact on individuals currently enrolled in Medicaid, Leavitt was unable to provide a guarantee that there would be no disruptions due to the funding freeze. She indicated that she would need to follow up on the matter and provide further information at a later time.
