Trump’s Cabinet Fractured Over Obamacare Push

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a Senate Republican weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol March 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. Congressional top Democrats have demanded Attorney... WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a Senate Republican weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol March 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. Congressional top Democrats have demanded Attorney General William Barr to release special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation report for the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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President Donald Trump’s Cabinet is not united behind the decision to go after Obamacare, with HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Attorney General William Barr — who now has to lead the charge — staunchly against the abrupt policy move.

According to a Tuesday Politico report, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is one of the primary driving forces behind the push to repeal it.

Azar reportedly thinks that the lack of Republican replacement plan makes the move fruitless, while Mulvaney thinks it will goad Congress into action.

Azar’s spokeswoman, Caitlin Oakley, contradicted Politico’s reporting in a statement.

“Secretary Azar fully supports the Administration’s litigation position in the ACA case, which bears his name,” she said.

The decision also puts congressional Republicans in a tough place, since many of them don’t actually support a full repeal of the law.

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