Senate Republicans on Monday proposed steeper Medicaid cuts than those included in the House-passed version of President Donald Trump’s signature policy bill—making the bill’s passage by the July 4 deadline set by Congressional Republicans even more uncertain as Medicaid cuts have been a major sticking point for some in the GOP.

The Senate version of the 2026 budget mega bill is expected to be more aggressive on provider taxes than the House version.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has been clear about his red line as the Senate takes up the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act: no Medicaid cuts. But what, exactly, would be a cut? Hawley and other Republicans acknowledge that the main cost-saving provision in the bill – new work requirements on able-bodied adults who receive health