Republicans Move to Block Medicaid Funds for Gun Violence Prevention

A Republican-led effort is underway to stop federal Medicaid funds from being used to support gun violence prevention programs.

The push comes as several states have begun utilizing Medicaid to finance community-based violence intervention programs. These efforts gained traction after the Biden administration issued executive orders enabling Medicaid to cover services like firearm safety counseling.

While proponents argue that these measures address the root causes of gun violence, critics see them as a misuse of taxpayer dollars to promote a gun control agenda.

Representative Andrew Clyde of Georgia, a Republican, introduced the Medicaid Funds Integrity Act on December 5, which aims to prohibit the use of Medicaid dollars for these programs. “Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars have no place furthering the Left’s unconstitutional gun control agenda,” Clyde said in a press release from his office.

He criticized states like California, Connecticut, and New York for using Medicaid to fund what he described as “false ‘violence prevention’ programs,” arguing that federal resources should be focused on healthcare rather than initiatives that, in his view, infringe on Second Amendment rights.

The bill, co-sponsored by House Republicans Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy, both from Texas, and Mary Miller of Illinois, has gained backing from gun rights advocacy groups, including Gun Owners of America and the National Association for Gun Rights. Commenting on the bill, Hunter King, Director of Government Relations for the National Association for Gun Rights, said, “Medicaid’s purpose is to provide vital healthcare, not to fund programs that infringe on Second Amendment rights.”

The controversy underscores the broader debate over Medicaid’s evolving role in public health. Since 2021, seven states, including Illinois and Oregon, have enacted laws allowing Medicaid to cover gun violence prevention initiatives. These programs aim to reduce shootings by addressing underlying social factors and providing intervention services in at-risk communities.

While the Biden administration supports the use of Medicaid for these programs, critics argue that Medicaid funds should be reserved for direct medical services. Tension between federal and state authorities has grown, as states like Tennessee have embraced the opportunity to use Medicaid dollars for intervention programs, while Republican lawmakers like Clyde seek to halt the practice.

Clyde and his allies argue that without action, Medicaid could become a backdoor mechanism for advancing a gun control agenda. “Rather than supporting law enforcement and empowering lawful gun owners, liberal states are determined to divert federal Medicaid dollars to fund false ‘violence prevention’ programs,” Clyde said.