The government has been shut down for 31 days. Do you even remember what the fight is about? Let’s remind ourselves.
Democrats are holding the line for affordable healthcare for millions of Americans who rely on ACA subsidies to buy insurance. These are people who are too young for Medicare, earning too much for Medicaid, and without jobs that provide health coverage.
That’s about 24 million people.
November 1st
On November 1st, the ACA Marketplace reopens, and Americans will see what life looks like if these subsidies disappear.
Here’s what experts project:
A 60-year-old making $60,000 could see premiums jump from $400 to $1,200 a month.
A 30-year-old gig worker earning $35,000 could go from $80 to $350 a month.
When the ACA passed, states were given the option to expand Medicaid. Ten Republican-controlled states refused. As a result, the working poor in those states had no choice but to rely on the ACA Marketplace. Without subsidies, health insurance is out of reach. Meaning these cuts will hit working people in Republican controlled states the hardest.
The Shutdown
Back in Washington, the government has been shut down for 31 days.
There have been no serious negotiations. Republicans refuse to bargain until Democrats agree to their budget cuts — including cuts to the ACA subsidies. Democrats, with limited power, are holding firm.
The toll is mounting:
700,000 federal workers furloughed.
Hundreds of thousands more are working without pay.
And now the USDA says it can no longer legally use contingency funds to issue SNAP benefits to 41 million Americans. These benefits will stop on Nov. 1
This is all nonsense, by the way. SNAP is not out of money. It has a $5 billion contingency fund used for emergencies just like this. If the federal government stops paying out food benefits, it’s not out of necessity. It’s a choice.
A choice by Donald Trump to hold food benefits hostage, willing to let 40 million Americans go hungry just to drive up healthcare costs for millions more.
The pressure on Congress is mounting. Will Republicans respond to the pressure of their constituents who now know the new cost of their healthcare? Will Democrats feel the moral strain of so many Americans going hungry?
What You Can Do.
News about the government shutdown has slipped behind other headlines. Unless you’re directly affected, it’s easy to forget it’s still happening.
Republicans are holding the government hostage to force cuts that will raise healthcare costs, end food assistance, and risk air safety. They’re willing to furlough workers, let families go hungry, and make millions pay more for — or lose — their health insurance.
Don’t let it disappear from the headlines. Make sure your network knows what’s at stake. Let them know that Democrats are standing up for the needs of the American people. Remind people that real lives are being used as bargaining chips by the Republicans.
If possible, help those in your community who are directly affected. In my Chicago suburb, neighbors are collecting food and funds for furloughed workers and struggling families. Check your own community websites, including local government sites, food pantries, churches, mosques, and mutual-aid groups. Someone near you needs help right now.
If you need more background on this budget fight, check out my previous post here.
Sources:
Kaiser Family Foundation (2025, Sept 30). ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More Than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire.
https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire
Kaiser Family Foundation (2025, Oct 3). More Than 3 in 4 ACA Marketplace Enrollees Live in States Won by President Trump in 2024.
https://www.kff.org/quick-take/more-than-3-in-4-aca-marketplace-enrollees-live-in-states-won-by-president-trump-in-2024
Kaiser Family Foundation (2025, Feb 25). How Many Uninsured Are in the Coverage Gap and How Many Could Be Eligible if All States Adopted the Medicaid Expansion?
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/how-many-uninsured-are-in-the-coverage-gap-and-how-many-could-be-eligible-if-all-states-adopted-the-medicaid-expansion
Harvard Kennedy School (2025, Oct 20). The Health Insurance Subsidies Behind the Government Shutdown.
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/health/health-insurance-subsidies-behind-government-shutdown
Bipartisan Policy Center (2025, Oct 15). Enhanced Premium Tax Credits: Who Benefits, How Much, and What Happens Next?
https://bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/enhanced-premium-tax-credits-who-benefits-how-much-and-what-happens-next
Manatt Health Insights (2025, Jun 30). Marketplace Coverage Rollbacks Will Hit Non-Expansion States the Hardest.
https://www.manatt.com/insights/newsletters/health-highlights/marketplace-coverage-rollbacks-will-hit-non-expansion-states-the-hardest
Associated Press (2025, Oct 26). Trump Administration Posts Notice That No Federal Food Aid Will Go Out Nov. 1.
https://apnews.com/article/8a52a63b26a707ea676962226b090bb1
Axios (2025, Oct 24). USDA Says Contingency Funds Can’t Be Used for November SNAP Payments.
https://www.axios.com/2025/10/24/gov-shutdown-snap-payments-emergency-funds
Reuters (2025, Sept 30). FAA Would Furlough 11,000 Employees in U.S. Government Shutdown.
https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/faa-would-furlough-11000-employees-us-government-shutdown-2025-09-30
Associated Press (2025, Oct 7). Trump Administration Threatens No Back Pay for Federal Workers in Shutdown.
https://apnews.com/article/785eb776d2312d1f68f7e91961d0a93a
Washington Post (2025, Oct 22). Trump Is Creating Two Classes of Federal Workers: Paid and Unpaid.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/22/trump-shutdown-federal-workers-pay
Bipartisan Policy Center (2025, Oct). Who Is Missing Paychecks in the 2025 Shutdown — When and Where.
https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/who-is-missing-paychecks-in-the-2025-shutdown-when-and-where
Five infographics on Republicans starving Americans for political advantage.
Hungry? Find your local food bank and the Republican rep starving your family to score political points.
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/10/30/food-bank-map/
SNAP Food Cuts By The Numbers: How many Americans have to starve to pay for the Republican tax cuts for billionaires?
https://infogram.com/snap-cuts-by-the-numbers-1hmr6g8k3m1zz2n
Where did the money meant for SNAP food benefits go? Check this illustrated guide!
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/10/26/where-did-the-money-meant-for-snap-food-benefits-go-check-this-illustrated-guide/
End the Republican Shutdown: An easy way to contact your Congressional Rep and Senators
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/10/28/end-the-republican-shutdown-contact-your-congressional-rep-senator-with-democracydotio/
When the people have no food to eat, they will eat the rich
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/10/28/eat-the-rich/
Hey everyone! Earlier this afternoon a federal court granted a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump Administration from unlawful halting SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Let's hope that this ruling stands and that the Trump Administration complies.