Senate Republicans are working this weekend to end the longest federal government shutdown in US history, but their approach is stirring controversy by embracing former President Donald Trump’s call to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, and replace existing health insurance subsidies with direct payments to Americans.
Amid ongoing economic hardships caused by the shutdown—including unpaid federal workers, delayed SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans, and canceled flights—Senators Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, and Bill Cassidy voiced strong support for Trump’s proposal. From his Florida golf course, Trump urged Senate Republicans to stop sending billions in subsidies to insurance companies under Obamacare and instead provide those funds directly to individuals in the form of health savings accounts (HSAs), allowing people to purchase what Trump claims would be “much better” healthcare policies.
Graham, who co-authored a similar plan to replace Obamacare in 2017, praised Trump’s idea on social media, arguing that the current system benefits large insurance companies at taxpayers’ expense and leads to rising healthcare costs. Cassidy echoed this support, and Scott posted that he was drafting legislation to advance the concept, emphasizing increased competition and lower costs through HSAs.
However, critics highlight flaws in this plan. They note that while subsidies might flow directly to people, insurance coverage would still rely on the very companies Republicans criticize. Democrats, who control enough votes to block repeal efforts, strongly oppose this strategy, warning it could destabilize coverage for pre-existing conditions and ignite a “death spiral” within ACA plans. Senator Elizabeth Warren labeled the proposal a cynical replay of failed Republican attempts to dismantle Obamacare, insisting on extending existing subsidies as the immediate solution to end the shutdown.
Senator Bernie Sanders also condemned the Republican approach, sarcastically inviting Trump and GOP members to support Medicare for All, framing it as a true solution to end insurance company profiteering. Despite the weekend Senate session, no bipartisan agreement emerged. Moderate Democrats, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, continue to negotiate new proposals aimed at reopening government while deferring longer-term subsidy battles.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pushed Republicans to accept a one-year extension of ACA subsidies to avoid further harm to Americans. Yet Republican leaders, including Majority Leader John Thune, rejected this offer outright, deepening the stalemate. Meanwhile, amid these high-stakes negotiations, some Republicans staged photo ops with Trump in the Oval Office before he departed for his Florida resort to golf, underscoring a disconnect between public engagement and legislative urgency.
This healthcare showdown remains a key obstacle to ending the historic government shutdown, with profound implications for millions dependent on affordable coverage and the stability of the US health system.
