Could the ongoing government shutdown be the catalyst for a sweeping healthcare shake-up?
President Trump is urging Senate Republicans to eliminate Obamacare entirely and redirect federal health funds straight to citizens. But is this a realistic plan—or another high-stakes political maneuver while millions remain without essential services?
On Saturday, amid the 38th day of the government shutdown, Trump pressed Senate Republicans to dismantle Obamacare, proposing that the hundreds of billions currently allocated to insurance companies instead go “directly to the people.”
“I am recommending that the hundreds of billions of dollars currently flowing to insurance companies under Obamacare be sent straight to the people,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This allows them to buy better healthcare for themselves while keeping extra money in their pockets.”
Trump described the current system as “the worst healthcare system anywhere in the world,” framing his plan as a way to remove power from large insurers and return it to individual Americans.
The Senate held a rare Saturday session following the collapse of a deal that would have reopened several federal agencies and temporarily extended funding. Subsidies under Obamacare remain a contentious issue, with Senate Democrats refusing to approve a House-passed bill that would fund the government without tackling rising healthcare costs. As negotiations continue to stall, the shutdown shows no immediate signs of ending.
Conclusion
Trump’s call to end Obamacare and redirect federal health dollars reflects both frustration with existing policy and a strategic effort to reshape the national healthcare debate during a prolonged shutdown. Whether his plan gains traction or becomes another partisan standoff is uncertain, but it highlights how policy battles directly affect millions of Americans’ access to healthcare and government services.