California Rep. Ro Khanna posted on X that Medicaid and SNAP cuts set to begin in January amount to a “cruel Republican plot” timed after the election, and that reversing them must be Democrats’ first order of business. The video message quickly drew replies from users who argued that selecting new House leadership should take priority, including calls to reject Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker. Others questioned the timing and purpose of the cuts, with some describing them as measures aimed at fraud rather than a deliberate post-election move.
In the clip, Khanna states, “Most people do not know that there is a ticking time bomb of Medicaid cuts and SNAP cuts that will take place on January 1st 2027.” He continues, “This was a cruel Republican plot. They did not want the Medicaid cuts or SNAP cuts to take place before they had to face the voters. So they passed a bill that made those cuts take place next year.”
He then says, “The first order of business of Democrats when we get back to Congress has to be to reverse those cuts. We need to stop the Medicaid cuts and SNAP cuts that will deprive millions of Americans of healthcare and food assistance in the new year.” The video shows only Khanna speaking; it does not include footage of legislative proceedings or specific program data.
Khanna’s remarks refer to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Republicans passed in 2025. The law includes changes to Medicaid and SNAP, although not all of them begin on January 1, 2027. New Medicaid work requirements for certain adults are generally scheduled to take effect by that date, while some SNAP changes began earlier. The legislation also includes exceptions and exemptions for certain recipients.
Independent analyses from groups such as the Congressional Budget Office and policy organizations have projected significant reductions in federal spending and participation under those provisions, though estimates of the scale and timing vary. The video itself does not detail specific statutory sections or independent cost estimates.
Online Responses to the California Lawmaker’s Video
Some users focused on Democratic leadership rather than the cuts themselves. One reply stated, “None of this matters if you support Jeffries.”
Another wrote, “FIRST order of business is rejecting Jeffries. Full stop. This is a good second.”
A third commented, “Right after you pick a new Speaker, who better not be Hakeem Jeffries.”
Others questioned the characterization of the measures as a deliberate post-election plot. One user noted that expanded SNAP work requirements took effect earlier, writing that the timing “doesn’t even square with the law’s effective dates.”
Several described the changes as targeting fraud or ineligible recipients, with one comment stating, “That’s bc Medicaid/SNAP were full of fraud!”
While some commenters defended the changes as an effort to prevent fraud, the law also includes new eligibility requirements and reductions in federal spending that go beyond fraud prevention. Independent analyses have projected that some eligible recipients could lose benefits under the changes.
At the same time, some replies supported reversing the cuts. One user wrote that Democrats should reverse them “as soon as they can,” while another echoed the concern about impacts on healthcare and food assistance in the new year.
The exchange adds one more moment to the ongoing discussion over Medicaid and SNAP changes and how Democrats intend to address them once back in Congress.
