Senate Republicans Face Medicaid Cuts Dispute Jeopardizing Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'

President Donald Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill,' which includes key priorities such as making tax cuts permanent, funding immigration and border security, and cutting waste and fraud, faces significant challenges due to proposed Medicaid cuts. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that several Medicaid provisions, including cracking down on state provider taxes and excluding undocumented residents from Medicaid, do not meet procedural rules, potentially requiring 60 votes to pass rather than a simple majority. This has caused frustration among Republican lawmakers who view the parliamentarian's rulings as undemocratic and an obstacle to their agenda. Senate Republicans are divided over changes to the Medicaid provider tax rate, with concerns about the impact on rural hospitals threatening to derail the bill. To address these concerns, a Senate Finance Committee proposal suggests creating a $3 billion annual fund for rural healthcare stabilization, though some senators, like Susan Collins, argue this amount is insufficient and advocate for less harsh Medicaid cuts. The outcome of these debates will be crucial in determining whether the bill can advance amid internal GOP dissent and opposition from Democrats fighting to protect Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.