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Democrats worry they could stumble into shutdown

Centrist Democrats fear their party could blunder into a government shutdown this month as leadership takes a hard line on the funding package that needs to pass by Sept. 30.

© Greg Nash

Democrats broadly agree the looming expiration of enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act — combined with deep cuts to Medicaid that Republicans enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — will hit millions of Americans with higher health care costs.

But they are divided over whether to derail a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded in October unless Republicans agree to tens of billions of dollars in additional health care spending.

One Democratic senator who requested anonymity to comment on political dynamics within the Senate Democratic Caucus said progressives who are angling to run for president have pushed for the most confrontational approach with Republicans.

“Most people want to avoid brinkmanship, except some of those people who may be running for president, because I think people understand that it’s important to keep the government operating,” the lawmaker said.

The senator said it’s “not clear” how voting against a short-term clean funding measure and forcing a government shutdown would give Democrats more leverage over Republicans on the looming expiration of the Affordable Care Act subsidies.

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