Facing a jittery bond market and scathing criticism from Elon Musk, GOP lawmakers have expanded their search for ways to reduce the deficit by cutting Medicare, the Defense Department and the Federal Reserve — areas of the budget that were considered off-limits just a few weeks ago.
But each new proposal is creating new divisions.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is warning colleagues to steer clear of cutting Medicare spending, even though proponents of the idea insist it would be targeted only on “waste, fraud and abuse.”
Other Republicans want to look at Medicare Advantage plans provided by private insurance companies as an alternative to traditional Medicare. They say “fly-by-night” health care providers are abusing the program and bilking the federal government.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) also said lawmakers are discussing a proposal sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) that could save up to $275 billion by cracking down on insurance companies that overcharge Medicare Advantage.
The Hill’s Alex Bolton has more here.
DEADLINE SLIPPING?: Former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore, who served in Trump’s first term, told The Hill’s Emily Brooks that GOP leaders’ goal of advancing the One Big, Beautiful Bill by July 4 is likely too ambitious.
“I’d love to see that, but I think there’s too many differences right now to get it done by Fourth of July,” Moore said.
Read more here and sign up for Brooks’s new newsletter The Movement here.
