The shutdown may have ended, but the crisis it exposed is still hitting families. Congress walked away from extending the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) tax credits—the only thing keeping coverage affordable for millions. Premiums are already climbing. Hospitals are bracing for cuts. Workers and families are being pushed toward a healthcare cliff created by political choices, all while the cost of groceries, housing and child care keeps rising.
Donald Trump and Republicans chose chaos over care. They forced a shutdown and then refused to fix the problem that matters most to Americans: the crushing cost of living, driven even higher by skyrocketing healthcare costs.
The Senate has already agreed to hold a vote on extending the ACA tax credits, but the House of Representatives has not. House lawmakers can still force that vote by signing the discharge petition. Every Democrat supports doing it, and Republicans who say they care about affordability need to step up.
This is about dignity and basic economic security. It is about whether the government works for the people or for political self-interest.
What’s at stake
Healthcare
The healthcare crisis is real and entirely preventable. If Congress keeps stalling, families will face costs no one can absorb and choices no one should have to make.
- Nearly 5 million people will lose coverage if the ACA tax credits expire.
- About 20 million will see major spikes in their premiums.
- An estimated 9,000-plus people will die.
- Premiums are already projected to rise 26 percent next year.
- In 2026, millions could face premium increases of more than 100 percent, which means families will have to choose between health coverage and rent or groceries.
- Hospitals and healthcare providers will lose $32 billion in funding, which will lead to longer waits, fewer services and more closures.
- In 2026, 340,000 jobs will be lost, which will devastate families and local economies.
- This crisis will hit every region—red, blue and purple—but rural communities and districts will be hit the hardest.
This didn’t happen by accident. It happened because political leaders refused to protect the care people rely on.
Schools and communities
The shutdown exposed a pattern of neglect and lawlessness. The Trump administration has repeatedly ignored federal funding laws, and communities are paying the price.
- More than $410 billion in required funding for teacher training, mental health supports, disaster relief and infrastructure is still being withheld.
- Critical research and community programs were disrupted.
- Schools, families and local governments were pushed into needless uncertainty.
When leaders refuse to follow the law, it’s the people who teach, heal and serve who get hurt. Communities deserve stability—not manufactured chaos.
Federal workers and public services
The shutdown used public services as a bargaining chip, and millions of workers paid the price.
- Millions of federal employees were forced to work without pay.
- Air travel ground to a halt as flights were canceled across the country.
- Approximately 42 million people were put at risk of losing food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Home heating aid was threatened.
Federal workers include teachers on military bases, nurses in Veterans Affairs hospitals, scientists developing vaccines, postal workers, air traffic controllers and so many others. The shutdown showed how quickly political games can upend the lives of the people who keep this country running.
The path forward
Congress still has a way to fix this. The House can force a vote to extend the ACA tax credits if a majority of members sign the discharge petition. Every Democrat supports it. Republicans who claim to care about lowering costs need to show up and sign on.
Congress will have to pass a new funding bill by Jan. 30. It should prohibit the Trump administration’s lawless behavior with the money promised for our communities.
Working families need stability. We need leaders who put people first. And we need Congress to protect healthcare, lower costs and put dignity and opportunity back at the center of our economy.