### Budget Chief Defends Controversial Megabill Amid Senate Concerns

President Donald Trump's lead budget officer is downplaying concerns among GOP senators over the administration’s expansive megabill, which some fear may worsen the budget deficit and result in harsh Medicaid cuts. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought addressed these issues on CNN's "State of the Union" with Dana Bash, stating the administration is actively working to clarify the details.

"We continue to work with people in the Senate as to working them through the specifics of the bill, what it does and what it doesn't do," Vought said. He expressed confidence that the Senate will ultimately cast a resounding vote in favor of a bill that remains substantially similar to the current version, which narrowly passed the House in May.

However, the bill faces significant obstacles in the Senate. Notably, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, alongside Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), have expressed concerns about potential Medicaid cuts. Although President Trump assured in April that Medicaid would not see reductions, a Congressional Budget Office report from last month projected that 10.3 million people might lose coverage if the Medicaid provisions are implemented.

Vought, who previously played a key role in the contentious Project 2025 initiative, rejected the notion that the bill attacks social safety nets. "I think they're totally ridiculous. This is astroturf. This bill will preserve and protect the programs, the social safety net, but it will make it much more common sense," Vought asserted. He criticized the current system, noting that improper payments account for approximately one out of every $5 or $6 spent on Medicaid.

Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement program, Pathways to Coverage, has had mixed results, enrolling fewer than 7,000 people in its first 18 months and incurring significant administrative costs. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia argued that such requirements do not effectively promote work and could weaken the workforce and the economy.

Deficit hawks like Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Elon Musk have also voiced their concerns. Johnson remarked in May that the bill could be like the Titanic, and believes he has enough Senate allies to demand spending cuts. Musk suggested on CBS that the bill would increase the deficit and hamper efforts by the DOGE team.

Vought, however, disagreed with these assessments, claiming the bill would actually lower the deficit. "I love Elon, this bill doesn't increase the deficit or hurt the debt," Vought stated. "In fact, it lowers it by $1.4 trillion."