Four States Challenge 80-Hour Medicaid Work Mandate in Federal Court
Attorneys general from Oregon, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Washington argue the 2025 budget law oversteps federal power.
By Emmanuel Obasi ·
Four Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Thursday afternoon in the U.S. District Court in Oregon to block the Trump administration’s plan to enforce Medicaid work requirements. The suit targets the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It argues that federal officials exceeded their constitutional authority by mandating that states implement specific eligibility changes.
The legal challenge stems from the 2025 federal tax and spending law. That legislation requires Medicaid enrollees aged 19 to 64 to prove they are working, in school, or volunteering for at least 80 hours each month. The rules take effect in 2027. Exemptions exist for pregnant women, people with disabilities, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and parents caring for children under 14.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield called the new rules unconstitutional. He stated that the administration’s approach would strip life-saving healthcare from residents due to unreasonable paperwork. Rayfield emphasized the state’s commitment to maintaining access to care for its citizens.
The impact in Oregon could be substantial. More than 1.4 million people currently receive healthcare through the Oregon Health Plan. State estimates indicate the work requirements will apply to nearly 40 percent of those enrollees. A third of that group may lose coverage because of the administrative burden required to maintain eligibility.
Washington state faces similar risks. Its Medicaid program, Apple Health, serves more than 1.9 million residents. State officials estimate that at least 20 percent of members, roughly 120,000 people, may lose coverage. Attorney General Nick Brown described the changes as an effort to shred the safety net. He warned that the red tape would cause people to delay medical care and rely on public hospitals for emergency treatment.
Rural communities are expected to feel the strain most heavily. These areas have higher rates of Medicaid utilization and unemployment. Local healthcare facilities anticipate greater financial hardship if the mandates take effect. A spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Spokespeople for the health and human services department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday morning.
