WASHINGTON ― In a head-spinning move on Tuesday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced legislation that would repeal cuts to Medicaid he helped make possible only two weeks ago.

The bill would restore funding that states rely on to finance Medicaid, which Republicans put on the chopping block by passing President Donald Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” tax and spending law. The measure passed on a party-line vote after months of debate and hand-wringing about taking health insurance away from vulnerable Americans ― including voters who supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

“President Trump has always said we have to protect Medicaid for working people. Now is the time to prevent any future cuts to Medicaid from going into effect,” Hawley said in a statement released by his office.