President Donald Trump’s pledge to “love and cherish” Medicaid, the public health insurance program for 79 million low-income and disabled Americans, appears to be at odds with his recent endorsement of a House Republican budget proposal that sets the stage for massive cuts. Experts warn that this move betrays Trump’s populist agenda.
In a surprising reversal, the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Trump-appointed Adam Ferguson, has confirmed that the agency will preserve tougher merger guidelines put in place by Biden-era antitrust enforcers Jonathan Kanter and Lina Khan. The move is seen as a departure from Trump’s previous efforts to roll back these guidelines.
The shift comes after the FTC sued to block a Hewlett-Packard merger, which suggests that Ferguson is committed to enforcing stricter antitrust policies. However, some remain concerned that he may limit his predecessors’ tough stance on mergers.
This development has sparked alarm among Democrats and MAGA supporters alike, who had expected Trump to prioritize healthcare over corporate interests. The contrast between Trump’s words and actions raises questions about the president’s true intentions for Medicaid and his commitment to populist policies.
As the debate over Medicaid cuts continues, one thing is clear: Trump’s move represents a significant shift in his administration’s stance on public health insurance. Whether this change aligns with his stated goals or betrays them remains to be seen.
Source: https://www.levernews.com/trump-regulators-flip-the-script-on-antitrust