Washington D.C. – A prolonged U.S. government shutdown continues as President Donald trump proposes a shift in federal healthcare funding, suggesting direct payments to citizens as an alternative to Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. The proposal, reminiscent of Indonesia’s “BLT“ (Direct Cash Assistance) program, comes as lawmakers remain deadlocked over a funding bill.
Trump outlined his idea on Truth Social,stating,”I recommend to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to insurance Companies that are sucking up money to save the poor health services provided by ObamaCare,BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN BUY THEIR OWN MUCH BETTER HEALTH SERVICES and have money left over.”
the White House has not yet detailed how such a plan would function.
The impasse follows a rejection by Republican Senators of a deal offered by Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer to reopen the government, which has been closed since October 1, 2025 – marking the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
democrats are seeking to include healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans, set to expire at year’s end, within any funding legislation. Republicans aligned with the Trump governance maintain that Congress should pass a clean funding bill to reopen the government before addressing other issues.
Senators James Lankford of Oklahoma and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have publicly voiced support for Trump’s proposal, echoing concerns that ACA subsidies primarily benefit insurance companies rather than individuals.