Wednesday's court arguments come as Republicans try to defend their control of the House and Senate while many Democrats make health care a central issue in their campaigns. (Photo: Getty)

The Trump administration isn't defending Obamacare from a legal attack that could finally slay the embattled health-care law, but the federal government cautioned Wednesday that an immediate and nationwide halt may trigger “chaos.”

Unlike the state of Texas, which urged a federal judge to block the Affordable Care Act right away, the Justice Department wants a court order not to take effect before Jan. 1, when the provision requiring people to pay a tax if they don't have insurance is phased out.

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