House Republicans are under the gun to get specific on how they will offset President Trump's domestic policy agenda, and they will soon need to decide if they will touch the political stove by trying to scale back Medicaid benefits.

Medicaid is at the heart of the GOP plan to pass a “big beautiful bill” and make budget space for an extension of Trump’s tax cuts. Party leaders have been vague about their plans, but the topic has divided members who are facing a menu of politically perilous cuts to the program that provides health coverage to more than 70 million people.

Conservatives are agitating for steep cuts to Medicaid, while moderates have said they would oppose any bill that rolls back coverage and benefits for their constituents.

“We won't vote for something that takes away benefits from seniors, disabled and vulnerable people that we represent who rely on Medicaid,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) told reporters earlier this month, after the House adopted the GOP budget plan.

Malliotakis was among a group of 12 vulnerable and moderate Republicans who earlier this month wrote a letter to House leaders warning that they would not back the reconciliation plan over concerns about cuts to Medicaid.

The rubber meets the road on May 7, when the House Energy and Commerce Committee is planning a markup of its portion of the sweeping........

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