Shapiro Urges Democrats to Fix Medicaid, SNAP Cuts First

Congress changes hands in January, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro already has a short list for what should come first: health care and food aid. In an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, the Democratic governor said he hopes the new Democratic-controlled Congress moves fast to undo cuts made during President Donald Trump's second term, according to NBC News.

What does Shapiro want Congress to do first?

"I hope one of the first things that the Congress does is to stop these Medicaid cuts, stop the SNAP cuts, roll back the cuts, the effective cuts in the Affordable Care Act," Shapiro said on the program, according to NBC News. The governor framed the request as a starting point, not the whole agenda. "In general, though, I think Democrats need to have an aggressive agenda that cuts costs, that ends the war, that gets put on the president's desk," he said. "Hopefully, he will sign it because it'll be common-sense stuff that makes people's lives better."

How many Pennsylvanians are affected by the cuts?

Shapiro told NBC News that in Pennsylvania alone, 510,000 people are losing health coverage and 143,000 more are losing SNAP, the federal food assistance program, because of cuts approved under Trump's second term. The governor did not break down how those numbers split between Medicaid eligibility changes and Affordable Care Act subsidy reductions, and NBC News did not independently verify the figures in the segment. The totals come directly from Shapiro's own account during the interview.

For Pennsylvania families on Medicaid or SNAP, the practical effect is coverage and benefits that have already started to lapse or shrink as the cuts take hold, based on the numbers Shapiro cited. Nothing in the interview suggests those changes are paused while Congress works out what to do next.

What happens if Trump vetoes Democratic bills?

Trump has said he intends to work with Democrats once the new Congress convenes, per NBC News, but he has also been promoting a "VETO"-branded hat since Republicans lost their House majority in the midterms. Shapiro said a veto would carry its own message. "It's yet another signal to the American people the president actually doesn't care about their well-being," he said, according to the NBC News interview.

That sets up a test almost immediately after the new Congress is sworn in: whether Trump signs bills aimed at restoring Medicaid and SNAP funding, or blocks them and leaves Democrats to make the political case that he chose not to act.

Is Shapiro already looking at 2028?

Shapiro, who has been mentioned as a possible 2028 presidential contender, told NBC News he does not think Democrats should be focused on the next presidential race yet. The governor's comments on healthcare and food assistance were framed as near-term priorities for the incoming Congress, not a national campaign pitch, based on how the interview was conducted.

What changes Monday morning for Pennsylvania families?

Nothing changes immediately. Congress does not take control until January, and any bill to reverse Medicaid or SNAP cuts would still need to pass both chambers and reach Trump's desk. For now, the 510,000 Pennsylvanians Shapiro says are losing health coverage and the 143,000 losing food assistance remain subject to the cuts already in place, according to the governor's account to NBC News.

What to watch

• Whether the incoming Democratic Congress makes a Medicaid and SNAP restoration bill one of its first pieces of legislation in January.
• How the Trump administration responds to any bill reversing Affordable Care Act subsidy cuts — sign, veto, or negotiate changes.
• Whether Pennsylvania's reported enrollment numbers (510,000 losing health coverage, 143,000 losing SNAP) are confirmed or revised by state or federal agencies.
• Whether Shapiro's push for an "aggressive agenda" translates into specific bill text, or stays at the level of a stated priority.
• Any signal from Trump's team on whether the "VETO" messaging reflects an actual legislative strategy or campaign branding.

The full NBC News interview, including Shapiro's remarks on the Affordable Care Act and his comments on 2028, is available at nbcnews.com.

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