One Week to Go
In just one week, the open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act health plans will begin, and millions of Americans will see sharp increases in their healthcare premiums due to the expiration of the Obamacare subsidies. In some states across the country, Americans are already getting an early look at what this post-subsidy healthcare landscape will look like: significantly higher costs and fewer options for millions of Americans.
As voters become increasingly aware of the looming healthcare issue, pressure continues to ramp up on Republicans. This week, 13 House Republicans urged Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to address the expiring Obamacare credits.
Despite reporting that Republican leadership is now “preparing” for negotiations, Republicans continue to delay any real progress, holding firm that any healthcare talks can only happen after the government has reopened. Under Johnson’s leadership, the House remains out of session for the fourth week in a row. However, as the shutdown drags on, calls are ramping up for President Donald Trump to finally come to the negotiating table in pursuit of a healthcare deal.
Federally funded programs at risk if shutdown drags into November
November 1st also marks other key deadlines, with several key programs, including SNAP, Head Start, and LIHEAP, facing funding cliffs.
At least 25 states plan to cut off SNAP benefits in November, leaving millions of low-income Americans without access to critical food aid. Without sufficient federal funding, states have been relying on emergency funds, but many don’t have enough to sustain the program in November. While the Trump administration claims it is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits, it actually can, and is legally obligated, to provide SNAP benefits using emergency funds and transfers, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Center for American Progress. This week, 214 House Democrats signed a letter urging the Trump administration to utilize the congressionally authorized SNAP contingency fund, while Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) called on the administration to take all possible actions to continue SNAP payments.
The Head Start program, which provides free learning programs, meals, and more to young children from low-income families, is also in danger heading into November. Without funding by the start of November, another 134 programs will be put at risk, affecting around 65,000 children nationwide.
Additionally, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) — a life-saving heating and cooling program for low-income households — is running out of funding and facing unprecedented staff shortages. Without aid from the program, millions of Americans will have to cut back on their energy usage as winter approaches.
Notably, the Trump administration has attacked all three of these programs, which provide critical assistance and receive bipartisan support. In the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump dealt a significant blow to SNAP recipients, reducing access to the program’s benefits and shifting part of payments onto the states. Trump has also restricted Head Start, illegally withholding funds throughout FY25 and considering wiping out its $12.2 billion budget to get rid of the program in FY26. Ultimately, after significant pushback over the proposed cuts, Trump’s budget proposal would maintain Head Start’s funding levels. However, Trump’s FY26 budget proposal does include a gutting of LIHEAP, with Trump seeking to completely eliminate the energy assistance program. His administration has already undermined its work through staff layoffs earlier this year.
Lastly, a number of federal government programs intentionally schedule fewer grants to go out in October and more in November, meaning that the shutdown’s consequences will increasingly affect the programs millions of Americans rely on. Meanwhile, frozen paychecks and furloughs to federal employees, ranging from air traffic controllers to courthouse staffers, are also causing problems.
Republicans continue laying off staff and cutting programs Democrats prioritize
Last week, a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers, but the White House has sought to move forward with some of the firings anyway. Agencies have argued that most of the employees who had been laid off are not covered by the court order, and proceeded with some of the layoffs. However, the judge has since expanded her order, at the request of employee unions, protecting a wider range of federal workers from being fired.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is working to maintain funding for GOP priorities. After urging from Senate Majority Leader (R-SD) John Thune, the Agriculture Department reopened 2,100 Farm Service Agency offices across the country to help farmers and ranchers get aid. Additionally, while the Trump administration cuts at renewable energy projects, federal workers issuing permits for oil, gas, and mining have been deemed essential, allowing these initiatives to continue.
