The Big Health Care Policy Fight at the Center of the Federal Gov’t Shutdown

A clash between Congressional Democrats and Republicans over key provisions of the nation’s health care policy continues to be a point of contention as the federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, drags on.

U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33) told constituents during a virtual town hall meeting hours before the shutdown began that the lapse in appropriations occurred because Republican lawmakers refused to reverse health insurance cuts introduced in the president’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law in July.

The measure, Aguilar said, gives billionaires and wealthy corporations tax cuts at the expense of what he called the biggest health care cut in U.S. history.

“As a result, 15 million Americans will lose health care — including 3.4 million Californians on Med