Protesters demanding Medicaid cuts halted the House Energy and Commerce Committee's consideration of new program reform legislation, prompting the arrest of over two dozen individuals.

Activists, some of whom were confined to wheelchairs, continued to scream "no cuts to Medicaid" minutes into the markup, even after Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) threatened to jail anybody who made disruptive noises, as Fox News reported.

Reporters were informed by Capitol Police that 26 protesters were apprehended as they led the demonstrations away from the building.

From police

“Around 2 p.m., 25 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Rayburn House Office Building," Capitol Police told reporters. Police later increased that figure to 26.

"They were arrested for 22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding. It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional Buildings,” the police added.

Many of the demonstrators are in wheelchairs, and ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) made a show of asking Capitol Police not to detain them.

“I think hopefully everyone understands that these demonstrations, these people feel very strongly because they know they’re losing their health care and the cruelty that comes from the Republican proposal,” Pallone said.

A senator's show

From the upper chamber of Congress, New Jersey's Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) also showed up to offer his support to demonstrators.

The senator walked into the budget meeting and offered his own defiance of the Republican controlled meeting.

He later posted about his experience on Twitter, talking about the emotional side of the decision:

"Today, Senators Smith, Schatz, and I delivered stacks of deeply personal stories sent in by people across the country, saying how Medicaid has helped them get the care they need.

"We brought them directly to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to be entered into the congressional record. We are not going to let Republicans just kick millions of people off health insurance. We are going to fight."

Today, Senators Smith, Schatz, and I delivered stacks of deeply personal stories sent in by people across the country, saying how Medicaid has helped them get the care they need. We brought them directly to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to be entered into the… pic.twitter.com/9OpAbjjkI0

— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) May 13, 2025

Committee actions

Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee are currently mulling their possible changes to Medicaid and the extension of tax cuts as part of President Trump's "one big beautiful bill."

Without modifying Medicaid, the committee would not be able to meet its deficit reduction goal of at least $880 billion.

Several of the most substantial changes that Republicans were contemplating are absent from the measure, however, it does put new work requirements on "able-bodied" individuals and limits a state tax mechanism that allows states to get more federal Medicaid matching funds.