Judge blocks part of Trump's proposed Medicaid work rules

Work requirements for Medicaid are a longstanding Republican policy initiative. A coalition of Democratic states and the District of Columbia brought the suit.

Published: October 29, 2026 1:25pm

A federal judge this week sided with Democratic-led states in a dispute over the administration's proposed work requirements for Medicaid, striking the proposed definition of "medically frail."

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearn issued the decision on Thursday, asserting that the proposed definition went beyond the authority of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to promulgate, Politico reported.

“[E]nforcement of an unlawful definition of 'medically frail' may lead to the disenrollment of otherwise eligible vulnerable individuals relying on Medicaid coverage for continuity of care," he wrote.

Work requirements for Medicaid are a longstanding Republican policy initiative. A coalition of Democratic states and the District of Columbia brought the suit.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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