Van Orden claimed Americans would not see a “single nickel reduction” in their Medicare benefits as a result of Republicans' budget bill. Then, he voted for a bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would result in nearly $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, absent future congressional action.
2025: Van Orden Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Van Orden voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
July 2025: Van Orden Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Extended $4 Trillion In Expiring Tax Cuts, Added New Tax Breaks, Appropriated $448 Billion In Defense, Border, And Immigration Enforcement Funding, Increased The SALT Deduction To $40,000, And Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Costs. In July 2025, Van Orden voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
Van Orden Claimed Americans Who Relied On Medicare, Medicaid, WIC, SNAP Or Veterans’ Benefits Would Not See “A Single Nickel Reduction” In Their Benefits. According to a Facebook Town Hall hosted by Rep. Derrick Van Orden, “VAN ORDEN: Last Congress, there was a group of people on the left saying that Republicans were going to cut Medicaid, said we were going to cut Medicare, said we're going to cut Social Security. They said we're going to cut SNAP. They said we're going to cut WIC. They said we're going to cut veterans benefits. And none of that came true. And the same people that lied to you about Republicans cutting Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, WIC, veterans benefits, they are the same people that are telling you the same lies now. And for me personally, I find it despicable when people are fear mongering with those most vulnerable: our veterans, our seniors, and hungry children. So there is nothing in the continuing resolution at all that cuts any of these programs. So if you are an American citizen and you're legally accessing any of these programs, SNAP, WIC, veterans’ benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, you're not going to see a single nickel reduction in your benefits, period. And anybody that's telling you anything else is lying to you.” [Facebook, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, 3/12/25] (video)
Van Orden: “We Are Not Cutting Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, WIC, SNAP Benefits, Or Veterans’ Benefits. And Anybody That Tells You We Are, They’re The Same People That Told You Two Years We’re Doing That And They Lied To You And They’re Lying To You Again." According to an interview Derrick Van Orden gave on the Vicki McKenna show, "VAN ORDEN: I want to say one last thing. We are not cutting Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, WIC, SNAP benefits, or veterans’ benefits. And anybody that tells you we are, they’re the same people that told you two years we’re doing that and they lied to you and they’re lying to you again." [The Vicki McKenna Show, 3/25/25] (audio)