Trump Targets Governor—Medicaid Under Siege

Stethoscope pen document about Medicaid eligibility on table

Taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants, once pushed by Maine’s Janet Mills, is now under fire as Trump’s administration cracks down on policies many conservatives viewed as eroding both fiscal responsibility and American sovereignty.

Story Snapshot

Janet Mills faces bipartisan scrutiny over her expansion of MaineCare and CHIP for undocumented immigrants during her tenure as governor.
The controversy intensifies amid her 2025 Senate campaign, with national Republican groups leveraging the issue in ads and oversight requests.
Federal oversight under the Trump administration is investigating Medicaid spending on illegal immigrants, highlighting concerns about fiscal mismanagement and prioritization.
Conservative critics argue Mills’ approach incentivized illegal immigration and imposed unfair burdens on Maine taxpayers.

Janet Mills’ Health Care Expansion Under Fire in the Trump Era

Janet Mills’ record as Maine’s governor, especially her 2021 decision to expand MaineCare and CHIP coverage to pregnant individuals and minors regardless of immigration status, is now in the national spotlight. Her policies, lauded by progressive groups as among the most inclusive in New England, have drawn sharp criticism from fiscal conservatives and are a focal point of her Senate campaign. Republican leaders assert that such expansions send the wrong message, rewarding illegal entry and using taxpayer dollars for noncitizens at a time when many Mainers struggle with rising health care costs. Mills’ actions are repeatedly cited as emblematic of the broader leftist agenda that many in the Trump administration have pledged to reverse.

Federal and state Republican leaders have seized on the controversy. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and allied organizations have released ads and statements accusing Mills of putting the needs of illegal immigrants ahead of citizens. In September 2025, a Congressional oversight committee formally requested documentation on Maine’s Medicaid spending for undocumented immigrants, signaling a new era of accountability under President Trump. These oversight efforts align with a broader federal push to rein in what the administration sees as fiscal irresponsibility and to restore confidence that public programs serve legal residents first. The legislative debate in Maine also reflects a national divide, with many Democrats distancing themselves from further expansions after seeing the backlash Mills’ policies generated.

Legislative and Political Fallout: Maine as a Battleground

The Maine Legislature remains split over further health care access for undocumented immigrants. While Mills successfully restored coverage for minors and pregnant individuals in 2021, her push for broader eligibility failed in 2022 amid bipartisan concerns about costs and priorities. The state’s ongoing debate over the proposed Office of New Americans, designed to further integrate immigrants, has become a lightning rod for criticism from those who argue that such measures reward lawbreaking and undermine American workers. Mills’ Senate rivals, including incumbent Susan Collins and national conservative groups, are using her record as a key wedge issue. The controversy illustrates how Maine’s experience has become a cautionary tale for other states considering similar expansions, especially with the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and misuse of public funds.

As President Trump’s administration intensifies scrutiny, Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services now faces questions not just about program eligibility, but also about potential fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid expenditures. Federal policies have shifted decisively, with new laws and executive orders targeting sanctuary policies, mandating work verification, and expanding local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. This changing landscape leaves progressive reforms like Mills’ increasingly isolated and under investigation, with many policymakers reassessing the wisdom of generous benefits for noncitizens amid ongoing fiscal challenges.

Impact on Taxpayers, Policy, and the 2025 Senate Race

For Maine taxpayers, the stakes are high. Critics say Mills’ policies risked straining the state’s Medicaid budget, diverting resources from citizens and legal residents to benefit those here illegally. Supporters argue that improved health outcomes and demographic revitalization justify the costs, but these claims are now subject to rigorous oversight and skepticism in the new political environment. The issue’s prominence in Mills’ Senate campaign underscores a broader conservative resurgence, as Trump-era policies prioritize border security, fiscal discipline, and the restoration of traditional American values. Regardless of the outcome, the debate over Mills’ legacy reflects a national reckoning over immigration, government spending, and the proper role of public benefits in a constitutional republic.

Looking ahead, Maine’s experience offers lessons for policymakers nationwide. As federal authorities evaluate the consequences of past expansions, state leaders face mounting pressure to prioritize citizens first, restore the rule of law, and resist any return to “woke” policies that many voters now associate with economic hardship and social division. The Trump administration’s stance is clear: policies that circumvent immigration laws or divert taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants will face tough scrutiny and potential reversal, setting a new national standard for accountability and constitutional governance.