Representative Caldier sends letter to President Trump over Medicaid concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Olympia – March 24, 2025) Rep. Michelle Caldier is concerned that proposed reductions in Medicaid funding could be disastrous for the more than 157,000 citizens she represents in Kitsap and Pierce counties. The 26th District lawmaker has written and sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to “reconsider any proposed reductions and to prioritize the health and well-being of our citizens by maintaining robust funding for Medicaid.”

Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, said that although she is a state representative who cannot vote on federal matters, Medicaid funding has become one of her constituents’ top concerns.

In the letter to the president, Caldier noted that the 26th District has a large community of retired military and senior citizens who have honorably served their country their entire lives.

“Medicaid is a vital resource for millions of Americans, including many of my constituents who rely on it for essential healthcare services,” Caldier writes. “I understand that the current 90% federal match on Medicaid expansion was designed to be temporary, but Washington state is not in a position this year to backfill federal dollars if that rate was reduced. Cutting funding for this crucial program would disproportionately affect our most vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with disabilities.”

Caldier also noted in the letter that Kitsap County within the 26th District, which includes the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, has the largest percentage of federal workers of any county in the state. In the letter, she asked Trump to extend the transition period for federal employees before any terminations are enacted.

“Many individuals (federal workers) who have dedicated their careers to public service are now facing uncertainty in their livelihoods. It is imperative that we provide these workers with adequate time to seek new employment opportunities,” she writes.

“I may not have a vote in Congress. However, as an elected state representative, I have the voice of the people I represent. I will use that voice to help protect our vulnerable citizens and families struggling to make ends meet,” said Caldier.