Shutdown Deal Reached As 8 Democrats Cross The Aisle- GOP Axes Healthcare, Trans Rights Status-Quo Remains
No version of this CR would've banned trans healthcare or directly targeted trans rights- the standing issue was whether the ACA subsidies would be ended.
First steps in ending the shutdown have been taken but the legislation is not yet finalized.
According to BBC and The Hill, the Senate voted late Sunday night to fund and re-open the government after the Trump administration’s weaponization of the 40-day government shutdown to end SNAP benefits and slow air travel to a trickle.
The Needle reviewed all three versions of the Continuing Resolution- the appropriations bill at issue and none of them had any measures to do with trans people’s rights or healthcare.
The Hill published the exact text that was voted on late Sunday night, and the passed CR also doesn’t directly ban or restrict trans people’s lives, or healthcare.
It does offer the GOP a win by not funding Affordable Care Act subsidies- leaving the continuance of lowered healthcare premiums through the various state or federal exchanges up in the air and dependent on future legislation with no guarantees of passage.
To pass the legislation, 8 Democrats voted with Senate Republicans- but one Republican did not. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was the Republican who voted against.
The appropriations bill must now move to and be passed by the House before it takes effect.
Assuming the House passes it, and Trump signs it, the shutdown would end and funding would once again flow throughout the federal government until the end of January 2026.
The Needle will continue to report on this story as it develops.
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