Republicans took control of Washington this month and swiftly began eyeing enormous Medicaid cuts. Yet actually taking a huge chunk out of the healthcare program for low-income people will prove a lot harder than many may think.
The numbers being bandied about by many members of Congress and President Donald Trump's new administration are enormous. Cutbacks of that magnitude would shake up the healthcare sector, which is the main reason why it's no sure thing that the GOP Congress and Trump will be able to pull them off.
Related: Republicans outline trillions in healthcare cuts
Trump has big plans, beginning with his drive to renew tax cuts for corporations and wealthy households that are set to expire at the end of the year. To keep that tax package from blowing up the federal budget, and to carry out the longstanding Republican priority of shrinking the welfare state and the federal government's reach, Medicaid is an attractive target.
House Republicans have laid out a menu of potential cuts to federal spending in many areas. Healthcare accounts for the largest share of the trillions of dollars in reductions under consideration, and Medicaid is the largest piece of that.