President Donald Trump’s recently unveiled “Great Healthcare Plan” received a tepid response on Capitol Hill, signaling a tough road ahead for its implementation. The plan, which aims to dismantle significant parts of Obamacare, faces both procedural and partisan hurdles, dimming its prospects in a divided Congress.

The proposal, scant on details, seems unlikely to comply with Senate rules that allow bypassing a Democratic filibuster. Previous Republican efforts to integrate similar health cost reduction strategies into legislation have faltered under these constraints. Despite the White House’s optimism that the plan could garner bipartisan support, key Democrats have already voiced strong opposition, particularly in light of recent cuts to Medicaid and the non-renewal of Obamacare subsidies under Trump’s administration.

Senate Finance ranking member Ron Wyden criticized the plan as yet another hollow promise from Trump to reduce healthcare costs without delivering substantive change. The internal GOP dynamics further complicate the plan’s future. Deep divisions persist within the party on whether to leverage the budget reconciliation process to advance health-related initiatives, a method some see as the only viable route to enact significant legislation before the midterm elections.

The conservative Republican Study Committee has aligned Trump’s proposal with its own health care blueprint, advocating for a reconciliation bill that encapsulates major reforms. However, more moderate Republican members and vulnerable incumbents express reluctance to engage in another healthcare battle so close to elections, fearing the political fallout from contentious debates over Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies.

In the Senate, skepticism abounds among Trump’s allies about the feasibility of passing substantial parts of the proposal through reconciliation, a process limited to fiscal measures. Senior Republican senators, including Josh Hawley, acknowledge that many of their desired reforms might not meet the stringent criteria set by the Senate parliamentarian.

Adding to the legislative challenges, key elements of Trump’s plan, like the “most favored nation” drug pricing and mandatory price disclosures by insurers and providers, face opposition not only from Democrats but also from influential figures within the GOP. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other senior Republicans have expressed reservations about these policies in the past.

Despite these obstacles, some Republicans are publicly endorsing the Trump framework, signaling a possible push for a party-line vote. Senators like Rick Scott and committee chairs such as Bill Cassidy and Jason Smith have shown varying degrees of support, highlighting a willingness to at least consider some of the president’s health care proposals.

The ultimate fate of Trump’s “Great Healthcare Plan” rests in the hands of top Republican leaders in both chambers. Discussions about a second reconciliation bill are ongoing, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasizing the need for a compelling rationale to proceed with such a contentious and partisan approach.

As the debate unfolds, the path forward for Trump’s health care overhaul remains fraught with political and procedural challenges, casting doubt on its viability in an already polarized legislative environment.