Politics

After Slew Of Victories, Trump Administration Agrees With Judge’s Findings That Obamacare Framework Is Unconstitutional

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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The Trump administration is attempting to seize on a week of good political capital following special counsel Robert Mueller’s report findings by concurring with a federal judge’s determination that the framework of Obamacare is unconstitutional.

“The Department of Justice has determined that the district court’s judgment should be affirmed,” Trump’s Department of Justice wrote on the ruling, adding that the government “is not urging that any portion of the district court’s judgment be reversed.”

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald Trump (C) and President Barack Obama (R) are greeted by members of the Congressional leadership including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as they arrive for Trump's inauguration ceremony at the Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump became the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by J. Scott Applewhite - Pool/Getty Images)

President-elect Donald Trump (C) and President Barack Obama (R) … (Photo by J. Scott Applewhite – Pool/Getty Images)

The Texas judge’s ruling is sure to be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, where, if upheld, it would upend the nation’s health care system. Trump campaigned heavily on a pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare, even leading a charge in the first six months of his presidential term to overturn the healthcare framework. (RELATED: Here’s How Trump Silently Gutted Obama’s Legacy)

Republican attempts to use its united government were stymied by the late Sen. John McCain’s vote against the legislation, essentially ending all further attempts. Trump did succeed in removing the Obamacare “individual mandate” in his tax reform legislation, which penalized citizens for not having healthcare.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 04: U.S. President Donald Trump (L), stands with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) and Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC), after Republicans passed legislation aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House, on May 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. The House bill would still need to be passed by the Sebate before being signed into law. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L), stands with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) … (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

An official familiar with the administration’s actions pointed to Trump’s repeated campaign pledge to repeal and replace the Obamacare framework, as well as the president’s previous tweet celebrating the decision.

The official said that the DOJ concurrence was meant, in part, to accelerate talks with Democratic lawmakers over potential fixes to the healthcare system and eventual negotiations on prescription drug prices.

Another official uninvolved in the decision was baffled by the DOJ concurrence, noting that repealing Obamacare without a viable replacement would a political boon to Democrats running against Trump in 2020. The official also wondered why the DOJ would pursue such a controversial course of action while the administration is basking in the glow of the special counsel’s findings.

Democrats were quick to react to the administration’s Obamacare decision with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declaring, “Democrats will continue to fight relentlessly to protect people with pre-existing conditions and to deliver lower health costs and prescription drug prices for every American.”