House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Sunday that Republicans would protect entitlement programs as they press ahead with deep cuts to federal spending, but added the government must “eliminate people on Medicaid” who are not “eligible to be there.”

“The President has made absolutely clear many times, as we have as well, that we’re going to protect Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, for people who are legally beneficiaries of those programs,” Johnson told Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.”

“There are a lot of Americans who rely upon those — those programs, and we’ve got to ensure that they’re safeguarded,” he said.

“At the same time, we have to root out fraud, waste and abuse, we have to eliminate on, for example, on Medicaid who are not actually eligible to be there. Able-bodied workers, for example, young men, who are — who should never be on the program at all,” he added.

“And…when you have people on the program that are draining the resources, it takes it away from the people that are actually needing it the most and are intended to receive it. You’re talking about young single mothers down on their fortunes at the moment, the people with the real disabilities, the elderly.”

Last Thursday, House Republicans adopted the Senate’s framework for passing President Trump’s legislative agenda. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is directed to make $880 billion in spending cuts, which has fueled concerns about deep cuts to Medicaid, from both Democrats and vulnerable Republicans.

“We just wanted to be clear, again, with the Speaker, as we’ve had numerous times before, that we will not vote for something that strips benefits from seniors and our vulnerable population that rely on traditional Medicaid services,” Rep. Nicolle Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said prior to Thursday’s vote.

“Now let’s let the real negotiations begin, and we will fight it out for seniors and our vulnerable and of course our New Yorkers who deserve to have relief from SALT,” she added.

While Republicans insist they won’t cut Medicaid coverage from people who need it, it’s unclear how the House Energy and Commerce Committee can achieve $880 billion in reductions without major cuts to the program.

Democrats and health advocacy groups are already targeting Republicans in key swing state races over what is shaping up to be a key issue in the 2026 midterms.