Stop Enabling Shutdown Games While Americans Face Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs

Speaker Johnson and Republicans have kept the government shuttered for nearly a month while refusing to negotiate on healthcare. Johnson sent lawmakers home three weeks ago and won’t bring them back, claiming Democrats must drop their healthcare demands first. This is political theater, not leadership. Millions of Americans are watching their healthcare premiums spike because the Affordable Care Act subsidies expire in December, and open enrollment starts in November. Johnson calls these subsidies a “boondoggle” and insists there’s plenty of time to address them later. But healthcare doesn’t wait for political games. Johnson claims Democrats aren’t serious about negotiations while simultaneously refusing to negotiate at all. He admitted on October 13th that he won’t discuss healthcare until the government reopens, yet he’s the one keeping the House in recess. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was right when she said Johnson won’t even pick up the phone. The longest shutdown in history lasted 35 days under Trump’s first term. We’re heading there again because Johnson would rather protect his political position than do his job. Republicans passed a massive tax bill earlier this year that will cause more than 15 million people to lose healthcare access. Now Johnson refuses to extend subsidies that help millions afford coverage. He suggests vague reforms like income caps and stricter abortion limits but offers no concrete plan. Senator Jeanne Shaheen has said she’s open to negotiating details, but Johnson won’t come to the table. Meanwhile, federal workers are being fired, military families are worried about pay, and Americans face higher costs on everything because Trump broke his promises on economic relief. We elected you to represent us, not to enable Johnson’s shutdown strategy. Bring the House back into session. Negotiate in good faith on healthcare subsidies before open enrollment begins. Stop treating Americans’ access to affordable healthcare as a bargaining chip.