CNBC | Monday, September 29, 2025 
GOP leaders say Obamacare tax credit fight can wait until after government shutdown is averted

As congressional Democrats push to tie extending Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies to the government funding fight, Republican leaders say they’re willing to debate the issue — but not until after a shutdown is averted. “The Obamacare subsidies is a policy debate that has to be determined by the end of the year … not right now, while we’re simply trying to keep the government open,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” His comments were echoed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who called the ACA, also known as Obamacare, a program “in desperate need of reform.” “We acknowledge that there’s gonna have to be — hopefully there’ll be some steps taken that can address the concerns that Democrats have,” he said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “But you can’t do this by Tuesday.” Their comments threw cold water on Democrats’ main sticking point just days before the government is poised to shut down. If the ACA tax credits expire at the end of the year, premiums could soar for millions of Americans, a reality that could prove to be a political vulnerability for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. With the budget funding deadline looming, President Donald Trump is poised to meet on Monday with the top four congressional leaders — Johnson, Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The scheduled meeting comes after Trump last week abruptly cancelled a meeting with Democratic leadership, saying that no meeting “could possibly be productive.” – Read more