(Adnkronos) – Republicans in Congress are considering cuts to federal healthcare spending to help fund a bill that could include up to $200 billion for the war in Iran and strengthened immigration controls. According to Axios, the operation is part of the broader federal budget negotiation, which requires financial coverage measures to avoid new political tensions.
In detail, House Republican leaders are examining possible healthcare “offsets” related to reducing fraud in federal programs, following the model already discussed last year during budget law negotiations that led to significant cuts to Medicaid and the introduction of work requirements for some beneficiaries. “There are other items we are working on, especially in the area of fraud, waste, and abuse that we are addressing with our members,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told Axios.
The plan could also include changes to key programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, as well as interventions on health insurance, but discussions are currently still preliminary and no defined legislative proposal exists. Democrats have already sharply criticized the proposed cuts, with Senator Elizabeth Warren accusing Republicans of wanting to “cut Americans’ healthcare to fund more war in Iran.”
