President Trump caused a massive stir among Senate Republicans this week when he unexpectedly urged the GOP conference to show some “flexibility” regarding abortion restrictions, specifically the crucial Hyde Amendment language, if they want to get a health care deal done. That suggestion landed with a definite thud among conservatives who consider the Hyde protections absolutely essential for any bill that moves forward.
According to The Hill, Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota admitted that the president’s remarks definitely caught his attention. He even described the moment as “sort of an ‘oh s—’ moment.” Senator Cramer explained that his colleagues are simply “not flexible on it,” viewing the issue as “super important.” He stressed that the National Right to Life constituency is one of the most powerful groups they answer to, easily overshadowing other lobbying groups in terms of influence on this particular topic.
This flexibility request is causing such a headache because of the high-stakes bipartisan negotiation currently underway. Lawmakers are scrambling to finalize a package by the end of the month that would extend enhanced Affordable Care Act, or ACA, subsidies. These subsidies expired back in December, and Congress has been trying to figure out a path forward ever since.
This progress chatter is great, but don’t hold your breath just yet
For conservatives, the critical sticking point is ensuring the Hyde Amendment is applied universally to these plans. The amendment, along with similar laws, already prevents federal funds from being used directly for abortions. However, Republicans insist that this protection isn’t being respected within the ACA marketplace plans in states that allow or require abortion coverage.
Senator John Hoeven, also of North Dakota, made it clear that consistency is key. He asked why they would have Hyde applied “all across government” and then suddenly decide to abandon it in this one case. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas echoed that sentiment, saying conservatives are “very dug in” because this is an “issue of the heart.” He argued that he could never agree to federal dollars being used for the procedure.
Meanwhile, Democrats are totally welcoming President Trump’s input on flexibility. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, who has been involved in the discussions, called the president’s comment a “helpful sign” for the process. However, Democrats are warning that if Republicans insist on adding any new abortion restrictions to the package, the whole bipartisan effort is going to “blow up.”
Despite the partisan tension over Hyde, negotiations are actually showing some positive signs. A group of lawmakers, including Senators Susan Collins, Bernie Moreno, Angus King, and Tim Kaine, recently met to resume talks that have been ongoing since mid-December. Senator Moreno told reporters that the teams are drawing closer to a framework.
This potential framework includes a two-year extension of those enhanced subsidies, setting income caps, and shifting the end of open enrollment from mid-January to March 1. Moreno even characterized the talks as being “in the red zone,” suggesting a framework could be unveiled pretty soon. The House is even set to vote on a three-year subsidy extension soon, which Senate Democrats view as building momentum.
Many Republicans remain deeply skeptical that a deal will materialize, especially given the general reluctance among the GOP to boost ObamaCare without major reforms. President Trump suggested that he’s ready to team up with Democrats to tackle the ongoing issue of health care. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, one of the pessimists, noted that “the prospects dropped precipitously” once the holidays hit, adding that the effort now has “all the complexities” you can imagine.
Published: Jan 8, 2026 11:30 am