Senate Republicans open the door to cutting Medicare 'waste' in Trump agenda bill

As they look for additional savings, GOP senators have discussed the possibility of cutting Medicare spending they consider to be "waste, fraud and abuse" — with Trump's blessing.

WASHINGTON — Looking at new ways to pay for their sprawling bill for President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda, Republicans are exploring ideas to slash “waste, fraud and abuse” in Medicare, several senators said Thursday.

And President Donald Trump has blessed the pursuit, they said.

“I think anything that can be — that’s waste, fraud and abuse are open to, obviously, discussions,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters.

He said that Republicans have primarily looked at Medicaid to find savings but that they’re open to looking at other programs, too.

“The focus, as you know, has been on addressing waste, fraud, abuse within Medicaid and, but right now, we’re open to suggestions that people have them about other areas where there is, you know, clearly, waste, fraud and abuse that can be rooted out in any government program,” Thune said.