> At a Glance
> – President Trump urged House Republicans to show “flexibility” on the 50-year-old Hyde Amendment
> – The amendment bars federal money from funding abortion services
> – Conservative groups warned any compromise could cost GOP seats in November
> – Why it matters: The move could reshape how health-care subsidies are negotiated and affect millions of ACA policyholders facing premium hikes
President Trump stunned social conservatives Tuesday by telling House Republicans to ease their hard-line stance on the Hyde Amendment if it helps unlock a health-care subsidy deal.
The Ask
Speaking at the GOP caucus retreat, Trump said the party must use “ingenuity” to reach an agreement on replacing expired ACA premium subsidies. The expanded subsidies lapsed on December 31, 2025, triggering steep premium jumps for millions.
> “You have to be a little flexible. You gotta work something.”
> – President Trump
Trump framed direct payments to taxpayers-rather than insurers-as the GOP solution, but only if the party drops its refusal to fund any plan that might cover abortion.
Conservative Backlash
The comment drew immediate fire from abortion-rights opponents:
- Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America: calling flexibility “an abandonment of this decades-long commitment” and warning it would make Republicans “sure to lose this November”
- Gavin Oxley, Americans United for Life: urged Republicans to hold the line with an op-ed titled “No Hyde Amendment, no deal on health care”
Senate Republicans also signaled resistance. Senate Majority Leader John Thune insisted any bill must ensure federal dollars “aren’t being used to go against the practice that has been in place for the last 50 years.”
Hyde Amendment History
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Roe v. Wade legalizes abortion nationwide |
| 1976 | Rep. Henry Hyde introduces funding ban |
| 2020 | Joe Biden reverses his support for Hyde |
| 2022 | Roe overturned by Supreme Court |
Originally applying only to Medicaid, Hyde restrictions now appear in most federal health spending bills. Bipartisan renewals were routine until abortion politics hardened.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s flexibility plea reflects Democratic leverage after GOP let ACA subsidies expire
- House Republicans showed no visible reaction; Senate GOP remains opposed
- Conservative activists warn compromise could suppress turnout in the midterms
- Democrats are pushing to scrap Hyde restrictions in any new subsidy package
The president’s shift highlights the tightrope Republicans face: cutting a health-care deal without alienating the anti-abortion base that fueled his 2016 victory.
