The House GOP has released a report accusing Democrats of attempting to undermine U.S. healthcare during the government shutdown standoff. The report criticizes Democrats’ counter-proposal for a federal funding bill as a plan to roll back healthcare measures in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was rebranded as the ‘Working Families Tax Cuts’ (WFTC). The GOP claims the Democratic Continuing Resolution would reverse progress toward a more efficient, transparent, and equitable Medicaid system, undermining rural healthcare stability and imposing unnecessary costs on taxpayers. The shutdown, which is in its 13th day, continues as Republicans push for a short-term extension of FY2025 funding, while Democrats demand healthcare reforms paired with any funding extension.
The report highlights the GOP’s argument that the Democratic Continuing Resolution would dismantle key reforms to the Medicaid system, including those aimed at improving rural hospital funding, Medicaid financing practices, and federal reimbursements for non-citizen medical care. According to the GOP, these changes would weaken the long-term sustainability of the program and create risks of funding misuse.
Democratic leaders have accused the GOP of lying about the situation, but the GOP has pointed out that repealing all of their healthcare reforms would also mean repealing $50 billion in funding for rural hospitals. The report states that this investment supports states in stabilizing critical healthcare infrastructure and ensures that rural Americans can continue to access essential services.
The five-page memo appears to be a rebuttal to Democrats’ defense that they are fighting to preserve Americans’ healthcare access. The GOP’s CR, which passed the House on Sept. 19, has been stalled in the Senate, where at least five Democrats are needed under the current tally to reach a 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster. Senate Democrats rejected the GOP CR seven times, however, and the chamber is expected to vote on it again Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue to push for a funding extension that would keep current federal funding levels in place until November 21, while Democrats insist on pairing any deal with significant healthcare reforms. The ongoing impasse highlights the deepening political divide over healthcare policy and the broader implications of the government shutdown on federal operations and public services.