Topline
Senate Republicans can’t fast track some of the Medicaid cuts included in the House version of President Donald Trump’s signature policy bill, the Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday, complicating the GOP’s goal of passing the major legislative package by its July 4 deadline.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks to reporters at the Capitol as lawmakers work on the … More
Key Facts
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, responsible for interpreting Senate rules and procedure, determined the Senate can’t make changes to the formulas for Medicaid provider taxes and funding for states that provide Medicaid to undocumented migrants, among other Medicaid-related provisions.
MacDonough ruled that the changes were outside the scope of fiscal policy, a required parameter for passing bills under what’s known as the “reconciliation process” that allows the Senate to fast-track and approve legislation via majority vote, rather than 60 votes.
Democrats cheered the ruling and said it would block more than $250 billion in cuts Medicaid-related cuts Republicans aimed to include in the bill, though new work requirements for Medicaid recipients—arguably the most controversial Medicaid provision in the bill—remain intact.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/06/26/some-medicaid-cuts-in-trumps-signature-policy-bill-blocked-by-senate-parliamentarian/