House GOP plows toward $880 billion in Medicaid cuts despite internal differences

House Republicans are forging ahead with their efforts to advance key components of their bill to fund President Donald Trump’s agenda, despite facing resistance from within their own party. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee are both holding marathon markups in an effort to move the legislation to the floor.

Speaker Mike Johnson is facing opposition from different factions of his caucus, with only a narrow majority to rely on. Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy has expressed his opposition to the proposals, stating that significant changes are needed for him to support the final package.

President Trump has promised not to cut Medicaid, but the Republican bill includes provisions to slash Medicaid spending by imposing work requirements for recipients and making more frequent eligibility checks. The bill also aims to save money by cutting waste and fraud in the program.

Using a process called reconciliation, Republicans are fast-tracking their legislation, which only requires a simple majority for passage. The bill includes measures to strip Medicaid funding from organizations that offer abortion services and prohibit federal Medicaid funds from going towards gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

The Ways and Means Committee is also working on the tax portion of the bill, which includes a permanent extension of Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The plan includes provisions such as no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and a temporary increase in the child tax credit.

However, the bill has already faced pushback from Senate Republicans, including Sen. Josh Hawley, who warned against cutting Medicaid. Some moderate Republicans in the House have also expressed concerns about the bill, particularly regarding the cap on state and local tax deductions.

Despite these challenges, Republicans are pressing forward with their efforts to pass the legislation. The bill includes significant changes to Medicaid and tax policies, aiming to fulfill key components of President Trump’s agenda. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Republicans can overcome internal divisions and push the bill through Congress.