715 Billion Medicaid Cuts Spark Fierce Protest in Oakland

Oakland Healthcare Workers Protest Potential Medicaid Cuts Oakland, CA – May 14, 2025 – Hundreds of healthcare workers, patients, and Democratic lawmakers rallied in Oakland today to protest a proposed federal bill that would slash $715 billion from Medicaid. The demonstration took place outside Highland Hospital, one of the many facilities that would be severely impacted by the cuts. "It's not just about losing a program," said Vashti Hayes, a Medicaid patient who spoke at the rally. "It's about losing the very resources that allow us to live, to survive." The proposed cuts are part of a Republican-backed bill. While Republicans claim the cuts are necessary to eliminate waste and prevent a tax increase, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the legislation would leave an estimated 8.6 million people without healthcare. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee joined the protesters, pledging to fight against the cuts. Jessica Orante, a medical assistant at Highland Hospital, highlighted the impact on her patients: "Ninety percent of our patients rely on Medicaid. Our community is going to keep getting sicker and sicker, and it feels terrible seeing them in need and not being able to help them fully." The protest underscores the significant concerns surrounding the proposed Medicaid cuts and the potential devastating consequences for millions of Americans who rely on the program for their healthcare needs. The fight to protect Medicaid is far from over, and the voices of those impacted are being heard loud and clear.