Amid Historic Shutdown, Trump Urges Republicans to Scrap Obamacare and Send Health Funds Directly to Americans
As the federal government shutdown entered its 38th day—officially the longest in U.S. history—former President Donald Trump intensified his campaign against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), calling on Senate Republicans to abolish Obamacare and redirect federal health-care funds “directly to the people.”
Trump’s latest comments, delivered in a series of posts on Truth Social, signaled an escalation in rhetoric as the political impasse deepens, leaving federal agencies shuttered and millions of Americans grappling with the uncertainty of disrupted public services.
“The money should go straight to the people, not to money-sucking insurance companies,” Trump wrote, arguing that the current health-care structure funnels “hundreds of billions” into corporations instead of benefiting individual Americans. “If those funds were sent directly to citizens, they could buy their own, much better healthcare — and still have money left over.”
Framing the issue as both a matter of economic justice and bureaucratic inefficiency, Trump renewed his long-standing criticism of federal health programs. He went further, calling on Senate Republicans to “terminate the filibuster,” the procedural rule that requires a 60-vote supermajority to pass most legislation.
Without the filibuster, Trump argued, Republicans could move swiftly to dismantle the ACA and implement a new system of direct financial transfers to Americans, bypassing traditional insurance models entirely.
Analysts caution that such a move would constitute one of the most significant procedural shifts in Senate history, certain to provoke fierce partisan opposition and potentially upend decades of legislative precedent.
Political Gridlock and Collapsed Negotiations
Trump’s remarks arrived amid the breakdown of bipartisan talks aimed at passing a temporary spending bill to reopen shuttered federal agencies.
Democrats have refused to back any funding measure that excludes continued ACA subsidies, while Republicans insist that reopening the government must precede any broader health-care debate.
The stalemate has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees either furloughed or working without pay. Essential services remain suspended, creating ripple effects across the economy and amplifying public frustration.
“Each day the government stays closed, the burden grows heavier for ordinary Americans,” said Dr. Linda Carver, a political scientist specializing in U.S. governance. “Payroll delays, stalled projects, and disrupted benefits are eroding confidence in public institutions.”
Nationwide Fallout: Disruptions and Delays
The ongoing shutdown’s impact continues to expand nationwide.
Air travel has been affected by shortages of unpaid air traffic controllers, border enforcement agencies are stretched thin, and key social safety-net programs—including SNAP and WIC—face imminent funding lapses.
Hospitals and federally funded research institutions report interruptions in operations, underscoring the human and institutional cost of a government in limbo.
Republicans frame the standoff as a battle over fiscal responsibility and long-term reform, while Democrats counter that millions of Americans are being used as leverage in a political fight.
“While the president and his allies perform political theater,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, “families are losing access to services they rely on. This is not strategy — it’s a crisis.”
A Decade-Long Battle Over Obamacare
Since its passage in 2010, the Affordable Care Act has remained one of the most polarizing laws in modern American politics.
The legislation expanded coverage to millions, reformed insurance practices, and provided subsidies for lower- and middle-income families. Yet it also became a lightning rod for conservative opposition, who argue it increased government overreach and drove up costs.
During his presidency, Trump made multiple efforts to repeal or weaken the ACA, none of which fully succeeded. Now, by tying the shutdown to his renewed push for its elimination, he appears intent on reframing the standoff as a defining ideological battle over the future of U.S. health care.
“This is not just about budget allocations,” said Dr. Samuel Lee, a health policy analyst. “Trump is using the shutdown to reopen the Obamacare debate — effectively turning a governance failure into a broader fight over government’s role in health care.”
While such a move could rally his conservative base, it also risks alienating moderates and alarming millions of Americans who depend on ACA coverage and subsidies.
Trump’s Broader Political Calculus
Observers see Trump’s latest salvo as part of a larger strategy to strengthen his populist appeal.
By calling to “send money directly to the people,” Trump seeks to present himself as a champion of individual freedom and financial empowerment, tapping into public frustration with bureaucracy and perceived government waste.
The message, political analysts note, is as much symbolic as it is substantive: a populist reframing of health care as a battle between ordinary Americans and entrenched institutions.
Even if immediate legislative change is unlikely, Trump’s rhetoric keeps the spotlight on a deeply divisive issue and forces Republican lawmakers to publicly align with or against his position.
“This isn’t just a policy discussion — it’s a power play,” said Dr. Carver. “Trump is using the shutdown as both leverage and theater, positioning himself as the voice of the frustrated voter.”
An Uncertain Path Forward
With the shutdown’s 38th day come and gone, the path forward remains uncertain.
Federal workers await paychecks, small businesses dependent on government contracts are struggling, and families dependent on federal aid face mounting anxiety.
Meanwhile, Trump’s insistence on dismantling the ACA underscores that the dispute extends far beyond short-term budgetary concerns — it is a proxy war over the scope of federal authority and the balance between personal choice and collective responsibility in American life.
As congressional leaders scramble for a path out of the deadlock, one reality is clear: the longer the shutdown persists, the greater its toll on the economy, public services, and trust in government.
Whether this historic standoff ends in compromise, escalation, or an even deeper policy divide, the consequences — both political and personal — will reverberate long after the government reopens.
