On Wednesday, October 22, the government shutdown in the United States entered its 22nd day, making it the second longest in history. The deadlock between the two parties over the issue of “Obamacare subsidy extension” continues, with no end in sight.
This marks the second longest government shutdown in U.S. history to occur during President Trump’s tenure. The longest government shutdown happened in Trump’s first term, starting in December 2018 and lasting nearly five weeks.
The current government shutdown is due to Democratic senators refusing to vote in support of a short-term government funding bill proposed by Republicans. Democrats insist that any funding bill must extend the enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly referred to as “Obamacare.”
Democrats argue that the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of the year, and if not extended, the health insurance costs for millions of Americans with Obamacare could significantly increase in 2026.
Democrats are calling on Congress to provide relief for 22 million Americans who will face skyrocketing healthcare premiums in January next year as a condition for reopening the government.
These more generous healthcare subsidies were introduced during the pandemic in 2021 as emergency measures and are set to expire at the end of 2025. According to the Congressional Budget Office, extending these subsidies could add $350 billion to the national debt over the next decade.
Republicans accuse Democrats of using the government as a hostage and refusing to negotiate on healthcare issues after reopening.
President Trump has taken a strong stance on this issue, stating, “Our message is very simple: we will not be blackmailed by their crazy conspiracy.”
Currently, Republicans hold a majority of 53 votes to 47 in the Senate, but any funding bill requires at least 60 votes for passage. An interim funding resolution that had previously passed in the Republican-controlled House has been voted on 11 times in the Senate but has failed each time.
Last Thursday, a Republican-supported bill providing funding only for the U.S. military also failed in a procedural vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said after meeting with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday, “We have had negotiations, and I don’t know what else to talk about. This is about reopening the government, and we have offered them several compromises. What the Democrats want is entirely unworkable.”
Before Trump’s upcoming trip to Asia, congressional Democratic leaders once again requested dialogue with Trump, hoping he would engage in negotiations on extending the Obamacare subsidies in exchange for reopening the government. However, Trump clearly stated later on Tuesday that he would only engage in discussions after the government shutdown ended.
Previously, Senate Republican Leader Thune publicly promised to hold a separate vote on extending the expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies after the government reopened.
However, Democrats disagree with a standalone vote and only wish to tie it to funding for reopening the government.
When asked about any potential solution to the deadlock, moderate Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire shook her head and said, “I don’t see any way out.”