Hirono Condemns Republican Budget Resolution, Warns Against Cuts to Medicaid That Would Impact Thousands in Hawaii

~ House Republican Budget Resolution could cause over 140,000 Medicaid recipients in Hawaii to lose their health insurance ~

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement in response to the House Republican budget resolution, which laid out potential cuts to federal funding, including up to $2.3 trillion—about one-third of Medicaid’s projected federal funding—being cut from the program. Passage of this resolution could lead to more than 25 million Americans losing their health coverage, including nearly 140,000 people in Hawaii.

“As costs continue to rapidly rise and working Americans struggle to stay afloat, President Trump and Republicans’ budget resolution aims to cut funding from critical programs like Medicaid, which could cut off thousands of people in Hawaii from their health coverage. In an attempt to fund tax breaks for Trump’s billionaire buddies, this dangerous budget resolution would put millions of Americans who receive health coverage through Medicaid at risk, further reiterating that Republicans’ top priority is to help the rich get richer. Medicaid is fundamental in helping rural communities, people with disabilities, keiki, and kupuna access health care. I will not stop fighting to protect this critical program and working to ensure that working families can still access the essential resources they need to survive.”  

According to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, nearly 20% of Hawaii’s population—approximately 440,000 people total—are covered under Medicaid. If the Republican budget resolution passes and cuts a third of federal Medicaid funding, Hawaii could see:

• 20,000 rural residents lose their health coverage;
• 35,000 children lose their health insurance;
• More than 1 in 6 seniors lose their nursing home care; and
• In total, more than 140,000 people cut off from their health insurance.

Last month, Senator Hirono joined 31 colleagues in writing to President Donald Trump, demanding his administration, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) make no cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. This followed reports that Elon Musk and DOGE officials gained access to key payment and contracting systems at the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers Medicare and Medicaid.

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