Overview
- The president urged shifting hundreds of billions now paid to insurers under the Affordable Care Act into payments to individuals, pairing the push with fresh attacks on Obamacare and calls to end the Senate filibuster.
- Economists and health advocates warned that cashing out subsidies would worsen risk pools, raise uninsured rates, and expose people with costly conditions to severe financial risk.
- Republican allies, including Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, voiced support for directing money to patients, with Cassidy describing federally pre-funded health savings accounts as a model.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Sen. Graham said the direct-payment idea will not be introduced in the Senate until after Congress passes a funding bill.
- The shutdown has reached roughly 40 days as Democrats press for a one-year extension of enhanced ACA tax credits and Republicans reject action on subsidies before reopening, with states warning of sharp 2026 premium increases if the credits lapse.