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On Wednesday (June 25), U.S. Capitol Police arrested 33 demonstrators inside the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., during a protest against proposed Medicaid cuts. The protest, organized by groups like Popular Democracy and ADAPT, aimed to highlight the potential impact of the cuts on millions of Americans. Demonstrators, including several in wheelchairs, traveled from states such as Florida, New York, and Virginia to participate in the "die-in" protest, chanting slogans like "No cuts to Medicaid!" and wearing shirts with the message "Healthcare Cuts Will Kill" in bold letters.
The protest targeted the proposed Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which could result in 10 million low-income Americans losing coverage over the next decade. The legislation also proposes additional work requirements for Medicaid recipients. According to NBC Washington, Analilia Mejia, co-director of the Center for Popular Democracy, emphasized the human impact of the cuts, stating, "This is about humanity...keeping people alive."
The demonstrators were charged with "crowding, obstructing, and incommoding," and one additional person was arrested for crossing a police line during the arrests, as reported by The Independent. The protest occurred ahead of a Senate vote on the bill, which has already passed the House. Some Republicans, including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, have expressed concerns about the cuts' impact on rural hospitals and their potential unpopularity among voters.
