AFT President Randi Weingarten responded to the recent House vote that ended the federal government shutdown initiated by President Trump and congressional Republicans. In her statement, Weingarten expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, particularly the lack of restoration for Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits.
“Like many Americans, we are deeply disappointed that Affordable Care Act tax credits have not been restored as part of reopening the federal government,” said Weingarten.
She emphasized that AFT’s 1.8 million members have worked to prevent a healthcare crisis and have called on lawmakers to fund the government, pay workers, and reduce costs for Americans. She warned that healthcare premiums are expected to rise significantly.
Weingarten criticized the administration’s approach during the shutdown: “Instead, President Trump and his administration used the government shutdown to inflict even more pain on Americans. Rather than working with Democrats to lower healthcare costs, they fired thousands of federal employees, snarled air transportation and denied food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, putting up to 42 million Americans at risk of going hungry.”
She noted that ending ACA tax credits could lead to significant negative outcomes: “It is unfathomable that Trump would cause such tremendous pain to prevent a continuation of healthcare credits that primarily support families in red states that he won. It is estimated that the discontinuation of these tax credits means 8,811 people will die and 4.8 million will be without health insurance. In 2026 alone, 340,000 jobs will be lost and hospitals will lose $32 billion.”
Weingarten questioned how current policies benefit working families: “How is this administration supporting working families? It’s not.”
She pointed out a new development in Congress: “These families aren’t a priority for Trump. But the Senate majority leader has agreed to a stand-alone vote on continuing these lifesaving healthcare tax credits. So Republicans will have an opportunity to do the right thing for their constituents. They can finally stand up for them, recognize how they will suffer and vote for an ACA tax credit extension in the Senate and join a discharge petition in the House to require a vote.”
Weingarten concluded with a warning about future consequences if action is not taken: “If they do not, they will continue to own this problem as healthcare premiums go through the roof on Jan. 1. And AFT members will do everything possible to remind voters next year of who is on the side of working families.”
The American Federation of Teachers represents educators across the country and has been vocal about issues affecting public services during government shutdowns.
