GOP Eyes Health Cuts to Fund Iran Military, Immigration

Republican lawmakers are exploring cuts to federal health programs to help finance up to $200 billion in additional spending for military operations in Iran and immigration enforcement, according to multiple reports from Washington. The discussions, led by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington of Texas, come as the Pentagon seeks supplemental funding amid escalating costs from the conflict that began several weeks ago.

The proposed budget package would use the reconciliation process to avoid a Senate filibuster, allowing passage with a simple majority. Arrington has revived an idea from last year to eliminate cost-sharing reductions under the Affordable Care Act, which help low-income enrollees cover deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for medications and treatments. The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated that this change would save the government more than $30 billion over a decade but could result in about 300,000 additional people becoming uninsured and raise premiums for others by around 11 percent on benchmark plans.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana confirmed the party is reviewing options, stating, "There's other items we're...