With just days remaining before a looming government shutdown, Congress finds itself locked in a high-stakes standoff, with both parties digging in over health care funding and the path forward for federal spending. The deadline—September 30, 2025—has become the focal point for a bitter dispute, as lawmakers race to avoid a repeat of the chaos that has marred previous shutdowns. At the heart of the impasse: whether to extend enhanced subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, a provision Democrats say is essential and Republicans are refusing to include in a short-term deal.
As reported by NBC News and Nexstar, Republican leaders in the House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are preparing to bring a stopgap spending bill to a vote. This measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), would keep the government funded at current levels through mid-November, buying lawmakers more time for negotiations. Johnson announced that the bill would also include increased funding for lawmaker security—a response to the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—and echoed the Trump administration’s request for $58 million in additional funds for the U.S. Marshals Service and Supreme Court security.
"I want everyone within the sound of my voice to understand: Members of Congress are safe," Johnson declared at the Capitol, as quoted by the Associated Press. “They will be kept safe. They have security measures now at their residence and personally. We can always enhance and do more and do better.”
Yet, while the issue of security has bipartisan support, the debate over health care funding is proving to be a much tougher nut to crack. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have drawn a firm line in the sand, insisting that any spending bill must include an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire. Without them, millions of Americans could see their insurance premiums spike next year.
"If one side refuses to negotiate, they are the ones causing the shutdown," Schumer said on the Senate floor, according to NBC News. Jeffries echoed the sentiment, warning in a statement that “insurance premiums are skyrocketing and millions of Americans are losing coverage. House Democrats will not support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people. That’s what this shutdown fight is all about, Mr. President.”
The stakes are high: the Congressional Budget Office estimates that failing to extend the subsidies would result in 2.2 million more people being uninsured in 2026, with that number rising to 3.7 million the following year. The tax credits, first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, have helped make health insurance more affordable for low- and middle-income Americans. Their expiration could have far-reaching consequences, especially for those who rely on the Affordable Care Act exchanges for coverage.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans—bolstered by President Trump’s vocal support—are refusing to budge. Trump has repeatedly called on Republicans to unite and pass a “clean” continuing resolution that excludes the subsidy extension, aiming to keep the government open while denying Democrats a key victory. “In times like these, Republicans have to stick TOGETHER to fight back against the Radical Left Democrat demands, and vote ‘YES!’ on both Votes needed to pass a Clean CR this week out of the House of Representatives,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Some GOP leaders, including Texas Senator John Cornyn, have admitted that a short-term patch is “not ideal but it’s better than shutting down the government.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, meanwhile, has urged his colleagues to pass the measure quickly, noting that Congress is scheduled to recess for Rosh Hashanah and will have only two working days left after returning before the shutdown deadline hits.
But the path forward is anything but smooth. Despite their narrow majority in the House, Republican leaders can afford only a handful of defections before needing Democratic votes to pass the CR. And not all Republicans are on board. Hardliners like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, and Warren Davidson have voiced their opposition on social media, criticizing the resolution as a continuation of “uniparty” spending and a betrayal of conservative principles. “I didn’t vote for those spending priorities when Biden was President and I won’t vote for them now,” Massie wrote. Greene added, “I can’t wait to see how voting for the CR becomes a Trump loyalty test. When in all actual reality, it’s a disloyalty to him by passing a Biden policy laden omnibus.”
Others, like Rep. Andy Harris, chair of the Freedom Caucus, have raised concerns about the lack of consultation with rank-and-file members. “It’s going to have problems,” Harris told NBC News. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee expressed frustration: “I wish leadership would come talk to us. I see where they’ve talked about how we’ve cut this deal. Well, they haven’t cut a deal with membership. And I know four ‘no’ votes on the Republican side right now.”
In the Senate, the math is equally daunting. With Republicans holding 53 seats, they would need at least seven Democrats to join them to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass any funding bill. So far, only Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has publicly said he would support a continuing resolution, but he also emphasized the importance of extending ACA funding. “That should be a stand-alone thing, that’s not like 'I’m gonna shut our government down,'” Fetterman told NBC News. “It’s a trap. It’s the wrong thing to do. ... Our nation doesn’t need more chaos right now in shutting the government down. That is the wrong answer. ... It’s dangerous right now.”
Democrats, for their part, are divided on how hard to push. Some, like Senator Tim Kaine, have indicated a willingness to support a short-term bill “if it’s for a limited time to reach the solution.” Others, like Senator Ruben Gallego, remain skeptical unless the bill addresses health care costs directly. “I’d have to hear some really, really good reasons—of what is that going to produce,” Gallego said. “And how is that going to contribute to a bipartisan solution that’s going to bring Americans’ premiums down.”
Amid all the wrangling, the White House has continued to press for increased security funding in the wake of rising threats to lawmakers. “We see so many threats come across our emails and phone lines, and it’s frustrating,” Rep. Mike Haridopolos told Nexstar, reflecting a rare point of agreement among the parties.
With the clock ticking, the fate of the government—and the health care coverage of millions—hangs in the balance. The coming days will reveal whether Congress can bridge its divides or if the nation is headed for yet another disruptive shutdown.
