Summary
The federal government shutdown took place due to disagreements between the White House and Congress over spending cuts and health care issues. Congressional Republicans incorrectly claim that the shutdown is about extending health benefits to undocumented immigrants. Experts confirm that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federal health programs like Medicaid and the ACA.
Key Facts
- The shutdown involved disagreements over the Working Families Tax Cut Act, signed into law by the Trump administration.
- Congressional Republicans claimed Democrats caused the shutdown to extend health care to undocumented immigrants.
- Experts and fact-checkers say these claims are false, as undocumented immigrants cannot receive federal health care benefits.
- Medicaid and ACA health care benefits are already restricted to legally present immigrants with qualified status.
- Democrats called for reversing Medicaid cuts and extending ACA subsidies set to expire.
- Some states provide limited health care to undocumented individuals with their own funds, but such programs are decreasing.
