The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the Republican budget bill under consideration would trigger about $500 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare, the program that provides health insurance to around 68 million older adults and people with disabilities.

Some $500 billion in cuts to Medicare could be avoided if Congress instructs the White House budget office to disregard the reconciliation package’s debt impact.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) said Democrats are "lying" about the sweeping GOP plan to cut $1 trillion from federal health and food programs.