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“โ (Direct Cash Assistance) program, comesโค as lawmakers remain deadlocked over a funding bill.
Trump outlined his ideaโ on Truth Social,stating,”I recommend โคto Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to insurance โขCompanies that are sucking up money to save โขthe โpoor health services provided by ObamaCare,BE โคSENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN BUY THEIR โOWN MUCH BETTER HEALTH SERVICESโข and have money left over.”
theโค Whiteโค House โคhas notโ yet detailed how such a planโ would function.
The impasse follows a rejection by Republican Senators of a deal offered by Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer to reopen the government, whichโฃ has been closed since October 1, 2025 – marking โthe longest โshutdown in U.S. history.
democrats are seeking toโค include โขhealthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans, set to expire at year’s end, within any funding legislation. Republicans aligned with the Trump โgovernance maintain that Congress should pass a clean โfunding billโข to reopen the government beforeโฃ addressing โขother issues.
Senators โJames Lankford of Oklahoma andโค Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have publicly voiced supportโ forโค Trump’s proposal, echoing concerns that ACA subsidies primarily benefit insuranceโ companiesโฃ rather than individuals.