More than 30 individuals were taken into custody by U.S. Capitol Police on Wednesday during a rally opposing proposed cuts to Medicaid outlined in President Donald Trump’s budget plan. Among those arrested were participants using wheelchairs, highlighting the protest’s focus on the impact of these cuts on vulnerable populations.
A Capitol Police spokesperson confirmed that thirty-three individuals were arrested for “illegally demonstrating inside the Russell Senate Office Building.” The demonstration was characterized by an urgent call for the preservation of Medicaid funding.
The charges against the protesters included crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, as it is prohibited to hold demonstrations within Congressional buildings.
Additionally, one protester was apprehended for crossing a police line outside during the event’s escalation, bringing the total number of arrests to 34.
The spokesperson also emphasized that there are designated areas on Capitol Grounds where individuals can legally assemble and protest.
The current budget proposal from President Trump, which is under consideration in the Senate, suggests significant reductions in funding for Medicaid—an essential service that supports over 70 million low-income and disabled Americans.
Both the House and Senate versions of the budget bill propose to introduce federal work requirements for Medicaid for the first time, a move that could threaten coverage for millions of beneficiaries, according to previous reports by Finance Newso.
