The Critical Need for Immediate Action on Health Care Amid Government Shutdown
In the ongoing dispute surrounding the partial federal government shutdown, it becomes clear that congressional Democrats are prioritizing the interests of everyday Americans, while congressional Republicans seem to be aligning themselves closely with President Donald Trump.
Democrats are right to stand firm and refuse to consent to end the shutdown until Republicans take sincere measures to protect millions from soaring health insurance costs and the risk of losing their coverage altogether.
Currently, Republicans are urging Senate Democrats to back a temporary agreement to fund the government, aiming to resolve the standoff in exchange for more discussions down the line. However, Senate Democrats have strong reservations about the Republicans' ability to follow through on such negotiations if they relinquish their vital leverage by approving this temporary funding.
As the revered Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. articulated in his iconic 1963 speech at the March on Washington, "the fierce urgency of now" calls for decisive action, not mere promises or procrastination. While King's message was born out of a struggle for racial justice, it equally resonates with today’s Democratic commitment to ensuring accessible health care for all Americans in the face of Republican opposition.
The Republican-controlled House has already moved forward with a funding resolution that neglects necessary health care protections. Yet, Senate Republicans require Democratic votes to achieve the 60-vote threshold needed to bring the resolution to the Senate floor, as they currently hold only 53 of the 100 Senate seats. Notably, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against the measure, and just a couple of Democrats, alongside one independent, have sided with the Republicans on this vote. This disconnection leaves Senate Republicans without the necessary support to pass the funding measure.
Democrats aim to maintain heightened health insurance subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act for millions of Americans while also preventing cuts to Medicaid, which supports low-income individuals. Despite having months of opportunity to engage in negotiations, Republicans have shown a stubborn unwillingness to compromise, leading to skepticism on whether they would engage sincerely if their threat of a shutdown were removed.
In a troubling display of neglecting their constitutional obligations, congressional Republicans appear increasingly beholden to Trump's directives. This behavior not only reflects a disregard for the urgent needs of their constituents but also showcases a troubling acceptance of the harmful health care reductions embraced by the administration.
Trump's aim to significantly cut funding for government-subsidized health insurance, medical research, and other vital health programs is primarily to support tax benefits for affluent Americans, including himself. Such cuts could lead to unnecessary suffering and even fatalities among countless individuals dependent on local health care support.
Having been born into wealth and boasting a billionaire status, Trump has never known the struggles of affording health care. In contrast, millions of Americans rely on government assistance to obtain necessary medical services.
Under the Affordable Care Act, approximately 22 million people in households earning up to 400% of the federal poverty line—who do not have employer-sponsored insurance—receive federal health insurance subsidies. These subsidies were increased during the COVID-19 pandemic under Congress and President Joe Biden, but they are set to expire at the end of this year.
Democrats argue for the continuation of these expanded subsidies, as their expiration would more than double insurance premiums under the ACA, leading to substantial annual cost hikes for individuals and families. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reports that about 4 million Americans may lose health insurance coverage if these enhanced subsidies are allowed to lapse, as the resulting prices would be entirely out of reach for many.
Most affected would be the healthier individuals, likely causing them to drop their coverage, and leading insurers to raise premiums further to compensate for a diminished and more care-needy population.
Furthermore, the misguidedly termed One Big Beautiful Bill, passed by the Republican Congress and signed by Trump, threatens to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid funding over a decade. This decision could result in approximately 12 million Americans losing their health insurance coverage through the program.
A recent KFF poll unveiled that the majority of Americans favor retaining the increased ACA subsidies, revealing consensus among 59% of Republicans, 82% of independents, and 92% of Democrats. Additionally, KFF data indicates that 77% of individuals enrolled under the ACA reside in Trump-supporting states as indicated by the 2024 election results.
This intriguing dynamic suggests that if the Republicans follow through with terminating the enhanced ACA subsidies, those very voters who favored Trump may be hit hardest. Many of these constituents, burdened with unprecedented health insurance premium increases, could be swayed to support Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm elections; particularly if Democrats promise to reinstate these crucial financial supports.
Thus, the Democratic push to preserve the increased ACA subsidies and to avoid cuts to Medicaid is not merely sound health care policy. It may also pave the way for significant political gains in Congress, potentially resulting in a Democratic majority in the House and even more seats in the Senate next year.
In essence, by neglecting the health care needs of voters, congressional Republicans not only inflict harm upon millions of individuals but also risk damaging their own political futures by alienating essential supporters.
This represents an astounding miscalculation, yet, the Republicans remain fixated on appeasing Trump, fearing potential backlash in upcoming primaries.
To resolve the shutdown, both Democrats and Republicans need to engage in good-faith negotiations and be open to finding a compromise. While Democrats have expressed a willingness to do so, Republicans have yet to reciprocate.
If Republicans continue to shy away from the compromise necessary to prioritize the best interests of the American populace, they may inevitably receive a stark reminder from voters in 2026, echoing the words Trump famously used on “The Apprentice”: “You’re fired!”
A. Scott Bolden is a seasoned attorney, a contributor for NewsNation, and has held roles as the former chair of the Washington, D.C. Democratic Party, along with a previous title as a New York state prosecutor. You can connect with him on X.
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