U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks to members of the media alongside fellow Republicans throughout a press convention following Republicans weekly coverage lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 3, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
As congressional Democrats push to tie extending Affordable Care Act insurance coverage subsidies to the federal government funding battle, Republican leaders say they’re prepared to debate the problem — however not till after a shutdown is averted.
“The Obamacare subsidies is a policy debate that has to be determined by the end of the year … not right now, while we’re simply trying to keep the government open,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated on NCS’s “State of the Union.”
His feedback had been echoed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who known as the ACA, additionally identified as Obamacare, a program “in desperate need of reform.”
“We acknowledge that there’s gonna have to be — hopefully there’ll be some steps taken that can address the concerns that Democrats have,” he stated on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “But you can’t do this by Tuesday.”
Their feedback threw chilly water on Democrats’ most important sticking level simply days earlier than the federal government is poised to shut down.
If the ACA tax credit expire on the finish of the 12 months, premiums may soar for tens of millions of Americans, a actuality that might show to be a political vulnerability for Republicans forward of the 2026 midterm elections.
With the finances funding deadline looming, President Donald Trump is poised to meet on Monday with the highest 4 congressional leaders — Johnson, Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The scheduled assembly comes after Trump final week abruptly cancelled a meeting with Democratic management, saying that no assembly “could possibly be productive.”
It stays unclear whether or not the Eleventh-hour assembly will yield a deal that averts a shutdown on Tuesday at midnight.
“[Trump] wants to talk with Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries and just try to convince them to follow common sense and do what’s right by the American people,” Speaker Johnson stated Sunday.
Schumer, for his half, said that the prospect of a authorities shutdown “depends on the Republicans.”
“We need the meeting. It’s a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation,” Schumer stated on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
Democrats have repeatedly insisted that any authorities funding proposal embody an extension of the Obamacare tax credit.
They remained agency with their calls for on Sunday.
“We actually need to enact legislation to ensure that the Affordable Care Act tax credits are extended,” Jeffries stated, warning that “notices” are set to start going out for the tens of millions of Americans who depend on the subsidies.
Republicans, nevertheless, argue that there’s nonetheless time to hammer out a deal on the subsidies.
“That doesn’t happen until the end of the year,” Thune stated throughout an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“We can have that conversation, but before we do, release the hostage, set the American people free, keep the government open.”
Republicans within the Senate want eight Democrats to vote with them to go their persevering with decision via the higher chamber, Thune stated, a prospect that, at this level, appears tough.