Soon after the government shutdown began on Wednesday, the Trump Administration promptly utilized media platforms to disseminate the claim that Democrats were responsible for the deadlock by insisting on complimentary healthcare for “illegal aliens.”
The shutdown occurred because the two political parties could not agree on spending and healthcare policies, leading to widespread temporary layoffs of federal employees and the closure of numerous government agencies.
The main disagreement between the parties stems from a Democratic proposal to extend Affordable Care Act financial assistance for Americans with low and middle incomes, which is scheduled to end by the close of the year.
However, Republicans are keen to promote a different explanation.
The actual circumstances are as follows.
Inaccurate Assertions
During a government shutdown, controlling the narrative is vital for both parties, as public perception often influences how long it persists.
President Donald Trump’s administration has consistently pushed a message: Democrats are seeking to reinstate emergency medical services for migrants in the U.S. who lack citizenship or green cards.
Trump previously highlighted this message last week on social media when he asserted that Democrats intended to provide “free healthcare” to immigrants, whom he characterized as “VIOLENT CRIMINALS.”
Upon the commencement of the shutdown, Vice President JD Vance became actively involved.
“Democrats spent years providing taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal aliens, and as promised, President Trump stopped it,” Vance stated. “Now, Senate Democrats are shutting down the government and jeopardizing the economy because they wish to restore those benefits for illegal aliens.”
Trump’s White House Press Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have advanced similar stories.
“Senate Democrats are poised to obstruct a straightforward, routine government funding bill because it does not include free healthcare for illegals,” the Press Secretary posted, while Leavitt unequivocally declared, “Democrats shut down the federal government.”
The Reality
The primary narrative presented by the Trump Administration is incorrect. While it is accurate that Democratic leaders are opposing the Republicans’ spending proposal, the Democratic demands do not encompass a request for healthcare for immigrants without legal standing. Their demands do include funding for disaster relief that was significantly reduced in Trump’s budget passed earlier this year, along with continued funding for the Affordable Care Act.
Democratic leadership is pursuing an agreement with Republicans on healthcare policy within their spending bill, requesting increased expenditures to maintain Obamacare subsidies and to reverse substantial Medicaid reductions implemented in the domestic tax cut legislation.
Individuals who are undocumented are not eligible for Obamacare benefits or Medicaid. Only those with a “qualified” immigration status can access Medicaid, which includes categories such as legal permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, and various other groups. This implies that not only are undocumented immigrants ineligible for these programs, but many legal immigrants are also excluded because they are not on the “qualified” roster.
Democrats are advocating for the reversal of funding cuts for federal reimbursements that hospitals can receive for providing emergency medical care to undocumented immigrants, a service they are legally obligated to provide. Hospitals can be compensated by Medicaid for this emergency treatment, but comprehensive Medicaid coverage is unavailable to undocumented immigrants. Furthermore, according to a health policy analysis, less than 1% of total Medicaid spending in fiscal year 2023 was allocated to emergency Medicaid for undocumented immigrants.
Beyond this, Democrats appear even more focused on extending subsidies under The Affordable Care Act (ACA), as the government has been warned that allowing ACA subsidies to lapse at the year’s end could have severe consequences, potentially leading to millions of people losing their healthcare, a dramatic increase in out-of-pocket insurance premiums, and a significant rise in premiums across the entire health insurance market.
In 2025, approximately 20 million individuals obtained their insurance through the ACA marketplace, and almost all (93%) of these individuals utilized subsidies to help manage costs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. They estimate that if Congress fails to extend these subsidies, roughly 4 million people will lose their marketplace coverage and become uninsured.
Democratic Response
Democratic leadership has unequivocally refuted the false narrative being promoted concerning healthcare for immigrants without legal status. Earlier this month, two prominent Democratic figures, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Patty Murray, introduced a spending proposal that did not include free healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
“It’s a complete, absolute, F-ing lie,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told MSNBC on Morning Joe. “They are afraid of the truth. They know that their actions regarding healthcare have devastated healthcare for a vast segment of America—affecting tens of millions of Americans. Therefore, they are attempting to conceal the truth.”
Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, echoed Schumer’s sentiments, asserting that Vance “detests” the ACA so much he would prefer to shut down the government and increase premiums for Americans.”
He further added, “ACA tax credits are not provided to illegal immigrants.”
