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House Republicans have advanced a temporary funding bill aimed at maintaining current government spending levels amid the ongoing shutdown that began on October 1, 2025. However, Democratic lawmakers, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), rejected the measure, insisting it include $1.5 trillion in Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and Medicaid funding. The impasse has extended the shutdown, with no resolution in sight.
The White House announced it would halt $2 billion in federal grants for state healthcare programs until a budget deal is reached, raising tensions further. Republicans criticized the Democratic proposal as overly costly and partisan, emphasizing their preference for a straightforward, short-term funding extension without policy additions.
Fox News commentator Brit Hume said, “The history of this stuff is that when the government shuts down, it’s unpopular, and people blame the Republicans. I’m not sure that’s going to happen in this case.” He added, “What Republicans have proposed here is the proverbial clean bill—a short-term measure that changes nothing, maintains current spending levels, and buys time until the next fiscal deadline.” Hume noted that “Democrats want to add things to it, and that’s usually what causes trouble and ends up being unacceptable to the public.”
President Donald Trump met with congressional leaders to try to prevent the shutdown, but the talks ended without an agreement, resulting in the ongoing lapse in funding. Senator Angus King commented on his vote, saying, “This was a difficult vote. The paradox is, by shutting the government, we’re actually giving Donald Trump more power. And that was why I voted yes.”