First Federal Shutdown Since 2018 Blamed on Republicans' Refusal to Compromise on Health Care
The federal government has entered its first shutdown since 2018, with Americans increasingly blaming Republicans for the impasse. The current shutdown is expected to significantly cost taxpayers, similar to the 35-day closure in 2018. Democrats stand firm on protecting health care, while Republicans refuse to compromise, prioritising tax cuts for the wealthy.
The shutdown began after Congressional Democrats refused to back down on their stance to protect Americans' health care. They argue that the Trump administration's $50 billion rural hospital plan does not fully offset the losses caused by the health care cuts. These cuts, part of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' passed by Republicans and Trump, have been widely unpopular, with most Americans believing they favour the wealthy at the expense of the poor and working class.
The 'Big Beautiful Bill' slashed nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and ended ACA subsidies, affecting nearly 4 million Americans. In Alabama alone, the cuts would increase marketplace insurance costs by an estimated 93 percent and result in around 130,000 people losing coverage. Despite these potential impacts, no party in Alabama explicitly advocates for protecting health care during planned cuts to worker subsidies and Medicaid reductions. Democrats have used Vice President JD Vance's previous statement about using a shutdown to benefit Americans to justify their position on health care.
The current shutdown is a result of Democrats' refusal to compromise on health care and Republicans' insistence on protecting tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. With the shutdown expected to cost taxpayers significantly, Americans are increasingly blaming Republicans for the situation. The unpopular 'Big Beautiful Bill' has exacerbated the divide, with Democrats vowing to protect health care and Republicans standing firm on their priorities.
