ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks recently signed a letter to President Donald Trump. In the letter, sent on Feb. 12, a group of senators demanded that Medicare and Medicaid not be cut by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The letter referenced DOGE and Elon Musk’s access to contracting and payment systems at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
According to DOGE, the department has been working to identify fraud and waste in the federal government. However, many have criticized its motivations in reviewing the budgets of federal agencies.
Musk posted to X on Feb. 11, referring to ongoing fraud in federal entitlements as a scam.
“At this point, I am 100% certain that the magnitude of the fraud in federal entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Disability, etc.) exceeds the combined sum of every private scam you’ve ever heard by FAR. It’s not even close,” Musk wrote.
One example of fraud cited by Musk is that millions of deceased citizens are still marked as alive in the Social Security database. In a post on Feb. 23, Musk claimed that eliminating fraud in the federal government could redirect funds to improve the American health care system.
“We are increasingly optimistic that, as the immense waste & fraud are eliminated from Social Security & Medical, there is potential to increase actual dollars received by citizens & better healthcare!” Musk wrote.
However, the senators who signed the Feb. 12 letter argue that DOGE and Musk are seeking new avenues to cut taxes for the wealthy.
“We strongly oppose any efforts by Musk—or anyone else in your administration—cutting or damaging these vital programs. Medicare and Medicaid must not be raided to pay for tax cuts for billionaires,” the letter states.
The senators also expressed concerns about inexperienced DOGE representatives making decisions that could have lasting impacts on everyday Americans.
“DOGE representatives, with no training or expertise, could make unilateral, politically motivated decisions to target both beneficiaries and health care providers while blocking access to care and essential payments for services,” the letter continues.
Medicaid provides health care to low-income individuals and families, while Medicare is a health insurance program for seniors aged 65 and older.
The letter notes that in 2024, approximately 80 million Americans relied on Medicaid for coverage, while 68 million seniors and people with disabilities depended on Medicare. Many of these individuals use the coverage for hospital visits, prescription drugs, and life-saving cancer screenings.
The letter also outlines how Medicaid funds statewide services:
“Medicaid provides funding to states for services at nursing homes, hospitals, rural health clinics, as well as home health services, addiction and mental health services, and family planning.”
Cuts to either program would result in millions of Americans losing access to medically necessary health care, though President Trump has indicated that he does not currently plan to enact major changes.
During a recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump said, “Medicare, Medicaid; none of that stuff is going to be touched.”
Despite Trump’s remarks, many are concerned about Musk’s access to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and how DOGE may impact funding for public health insurance programs in the future.
The BayNet reached out to Alsobrooks for comment on the letter. She responded, “This president wants to lower taxes for billionaires and pay for them with steep cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. It’s as preposterous as it is callous. Cuts to these vital services hurt the millions of Marylanders who rely on these programs. It’s becoming more and more clear that the billionaires got what they paid for with this president. I will continue to push back on this administration’s chaos and harm with every tool we have in the Senate.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also signed the Feb. 12 letter.
Why Are Democrats Concerned About DOGE?
The outcry comes as the Trump administration and DOGE cut funding to various federal agencies, particularly those that support diversity and inclusion programs.
On March 1, the official DOGE X account posted that U.S. agencies canceled 128 contracts on Feb. 28 alone, saving $60 million. In total, over 3,000 government contracts have been canceled.
Despite DOGE’s claims, many Democrats fear the department may make significant cuts to Medicaid due to Musk’s allegations of fraud in the program.
The Feb. 12 letter highlights how the Trump administration has affected Medicaid and health care since taking office.
“Your administration is already responsible for the shut-down of Medicaid portals across all 50 states, disruptions to vital health care communication, closures of community health centers, and significant delays in funding for life-saving health research. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will only deepen the harm.”
In late January, many state Medicaid offices were temporarily unable to use a payment portal to access federal funding. The portals are now accessible again.
It remains unclear how DOGE might affect Medicare or Medicaid in the future. Should funding for either program be cut, millions of Americans could lose access to essential health care services.
Click here to read the full letter signed by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
So she signed a letter….wow. DOGE is trying to save our country. Where’s the evidence that billionaires are getting a new tax break. She just says and does what she’s told to do by the dem machine.