As of this writing, the federal government has shut down. There are 2 main issues: 1. Health Care; 2. Congress’ constitutional power to set the budget and the president’s constitutional duty to follow the budget.

Re: Health care: Democrats are asking for an extension of tax credits for health care and reversal of Medicaid cuts.

This is not new spending. It restores $1 trillion cut in the Republican budget passed this summer. Only middle and low income families are eligible. Undocumented immigrants are not/will not be eligible for Affordable Care Act coverage, Medicare or Medicare. Veterans are hurt by the Republican budget. Many will see health care premiums skyrocket. Rural areas are hurt as some hospitals will close if funding is not restored. Republicans say extending health care tax credits is too expensive, but they extended tax credits for wealthy Americans, which is far more costly.

Re: Constitutional Powers: Democrats are asking for Congress to assert its constitutional power and ensure the president uses funds as set by Congress.

The Constitution is clear: Congress passes laws appropriating funds and the president must “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” But Donald Trump and his budget director, Russell Vought, dispute this. In the past eight months, they and DOGE have fired hundreds of thousands of federal employees and cancelled contracts, choosing not to follow the budget passed by congress.

These firings and cuts have been wide ranging, from the EPA and CDC to law enforcement officers, to name a few. They have asked for rescissions – getting consent from Republican lawmakers to cancel whatever portion of funding they don’t like. They also claim the right to issue pocket rescissions, i.e. the right to ignore the budget without asking Congress for consent.