WASHINGTON (Reuters) -At least three U.S. lawmakers said on Tuesday healthcare providers were blocked from the Medicaid payment portal after the Trump administration announced a federal funding pause, even as the White House said the program was exempted.

At least three U.S. lawmakers said on Tuesday healthcare providers were blocked from the Medicaid payment portal after the Trump administration announced a federal funding pause, even as the White House said the program was exempted.

The online system for federal health funding warned of delays due to executive orders after the Trump administration announced a freeze.

The Republican Party is eyeing sweeping cuts to Medicaid, a program that the poorest Americans rely on for health care, to finance President Donald Trump’s tax cuts and plans for mass deportation. Democrats say those plans could cost some 22 million people their health care,

Several Medicaid cuts are being discussed to help fund President Donald Trump’s massive tax cut and his immigration crackdown bill. But Illinois has a “trigger” law that would automatically end Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions in the state if federal funding is cut — which means 931,