Speaker Johnson Vows to Protect Benefits While Slashing Fraud and Waste

House Speaker Mike Johnson made it clear this weekend Republicans are not only committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for legitimate beneficiaries, but also determined to purge the bloated federal system of fraud and waste that’s draining it dry.

Appearing on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Johnson reinforced President Trump’s longstanding pledge to safeguard the core benefits that millions of Americans rely on but with a much-needed caveat they will no longer be a free ride for freeloaders.

“Well, here’s the key to all of it,” Johnson said. “The president has made absolutely clear many times, as we have as well, that we’re going to protect Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid for people who are legally beneficiaries of those programs.”

The key word here? Legally.

Johnson emphasized a hard reality most Democrats would rather ignore that these programs are being abused by ineligible recipients, including able-bodied adults who should be working rather than relying on Medicaid meant for the vulnerable.

Here’s how the GOP plans to fix it:

• Audit eligibility and remove abusers with a special focus on young, able-bodied individuals who shouldn't qualify.

• Streamline government operations through initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseen in part by tech mogul Elon Musk, to reduce bureaucratic bloat.

• Ensure that every dollar spent actually reaches those in true need including seniors, disabled Americans, and struggling single mothers.

Democrats, unsurprisingly, are already fearmongering. They claim any effort to clean up the rolls is a covert attempt to “dismantle” these programs, ignoring the math: if fraud and waste are allowed to fester, the programs will collapse under their own weight, hurting the very people they’re supposed to help.

Speaker Johnson laid it out clearly: “We have got to protect and preserve that program. So we’re going to preserve the integrity of it in this process.” And he’s right. You can’t have integrity in a system that rewards abuse, punishes productivity, and turns a blind eye to growing deficits.

Let’s be honest it’s not “compassion” to hand out benefits to the able-bodied while hardworking Americans foot the bill. That’s economic sabotage. The left can keep throwing tantrums about “cuts,” but Republicans are focused on sustainability, not surrender.

With President Trump leading the charge, and Speaker Johnson laying the groundwork, Americans can expect real reform not more empty promises. It’s time we stopped pretending that trimming waste and fraud is an attack on the needy. It’s the only way to actually protect them.

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