Counterpoint, Nov. 26, 2025
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end on Nov. 12, when both the House and Senate voted for a continuing resolution signed by President Trump that will keep federal agencies open through Jan. 30, 2026. Eight members of the Senate Democratic Caucus broke ranks to vote for a deal that failed to win a renewal of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, overcoming the 43-day congressional impasse. That means without further congressional action some 24 million Americans will likely see their health insurance premiums double or triple, beginning in 2026, with 5 million unable to afford health insurance coverage.
The federal budget passed by the Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by Trump in July, cut more than $1 trillion to Medicaid and Medicare over the next decade. These largest cuts to healthcare programs in U.S. history wonāt take effect until after the November 2026 midterm election.
The dramatic cutbacks in funding for health programs highlights a long running crisis that an increasing number of Americans view as a failure of our nationās healthcare system. Between The Linesā Scott Harris spoke with Dr. Diljeet Singh, president of Physicians for a National Health Program and a practicing gynecologic oncologist. Here she reviews the many failures of the U.S. for-profit healthcare system and her groupās advocacy for adoption of a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health insurance program.