As the U.S. federal government shutdown enters its 43rd day, marking the longest in history due to budget impasse, the White House stated on Wednesday that it hopes the shutdown will end.
During the press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “President Trump looks forward to finally ending this devastating Democrat shutdown with his signature, and we hope that signing will take place later tonight.”
Both U.S. parties have been at odds over the fiscal year 2026 budget since the beginning of the year, failing to reach an agreement even by the September 30 deadline of the previous year’s budget. As a result, the federal government entered a shutdown in October due to the lack of a finalized 2026 budget.
The opposition Democratic Party demanded the extension of subsidies for public health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, in relation to next year’s budget. These subsidies, implemented during the Biden administration, are set to expire at the end of this year. As the shutdown dragged on, Democrats agreed to introduce a continuing resolution to fund the federal government until the end of January, on the condition of a separate vote on the ACA subsidy issue by year-end. On Monday, both parties passed a new continuing resolution in the Senate, with a House vote scheduled on Wednesday. If passed by the House, the resolution will take effect upon Trump’s signature.
Leavitt criticized the Democrats, asking, “Why have the Democrats put the American people through this pain for 43 days in a row?” She attributed it to “pure partisan politics.” Leavitt argued that the Democrats’ stance on the ACA subsidy issue amounted to a “ridiculous demand to force taxpayer funded healthcare benefits to illegal aliens who broke into our country.” She further accused them of holding the country hostage to negotiate over a healthcare system they created.
Moreover, Leavitt asserted that “the Democrat shutdown made it extraordinarily difficult for economists, investors, and policymakers at the Federal Reserve to receive critical government data.” She suggested that “the Democrats may have permanently damaged the federal statistical system, with October CPI (Consumer Price Index) and job reports likely never being released and all of the economic data released will be permanently impaired.”
Leavitt emphasized that “Obamacare is a “broken system” that has dramatically increased national healthcare costs.” She also noted that Trump remains fully open to discussing healthcare policy once the government resumes normal operations.
