Senator Bernie Sanders expressed concern on Monday that President Trump could potentially “literally collapse” the U.S. healthcare system amid rising partisan tensions related to the government shutdown.
Sanders acknowledged, “I’m not going to exaggerate. Our healthcare system is indeed broken, and everyone is aware of that. Trump is right when he says it’s not functioning well. But his actions are making things worse.” He shared these thoughts during an interview with CNN’s Caitlan Collins.
He elaborated, “As the former chair of the Health Committee, I genuinely worry about his ability to completely dismantle the system. We simply don’t have enough doctors available right now. Who in their right mind would want to pursue a career in medicine under these conditions?”
In response, White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stated in an email that the president’s stance is clear. She suggested that if Democrats support a clean bipartisan continuing resolution—something Trump backed multiple times during Biden’s presidency—necessary policy discussions can resume.
On the same day, Trump called on Democrats to reopen the government, indicating that he would only discuss extending the health insurance tax credit if they back the Republican funding proposal. “I’m ready to collaborate with Democrats on healthcare and other policies, but first, they must reopen the government. They should do it tonight!” he mentioned in a post on Truth Social.
In the Senate, discussions stalled as government shutdowns approached the one-week mark following Democrats’ rejection of the fifth attempt to pass a “clean” funding bill proposed by Republicans. The Senate’s motion to pass the House Bill, which requires 60 votes, was also blocked, while the Senate turned down a temporary bill from Democrats aimed at funding essential medical provisions.
Updated at 4:29 pm
