Posted originally on Nov 4, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

The following documents outline the reasoning behind the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

As explained by Chairman Jason Smith of the Ways and Means Committee: “Democrats shut down the government to put illegal immigrants ahead of Americans, attempting to undo vital reforms that Republicans enacted just three months ago. Hardworking Americans should not be paying taxes in order to subsidize the health care of those here illegally. But that’s exactly what Democrats are demanding in order to reopen the government.”

Click here to read the One Big Beautiful Bill. “Subtitle B—Health” details explicitly the changes to Medicaid and ensures that illegal aliens do not receive government aid:

CHAPTER 1—MEDICAID

SUBCHAPTER A—REDUCING FRAUD AND IMPROVING ENROLLMENT PROCESSES

Sec. 71101. Moratorium on implementation of rule relating to eligibility and enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs.

Sec. 71102. Moratorium on implementation of rule relating to eligibility and enrollment for Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program.

Sec. 71103. Reducing duplicate enrollment under the Medicaid and CHIP programs.

Sec. 71104. Ensuring deceased individuals do not remain enrolled.

Sec. 71105. Ensuring deceased providers do not remain enrolled.

Sec. 71106. Payment reduction related to certain erroneous excess payments under

Medicaid.

Sec. 71107. Eligibility redeterminations.

Sec. 71108. Revising home equity limit for determining eligibility for long-term care

services under the Medicaid program.

Sec. 71109. Alien Medicaid eligibility.

Sec. 71110. Expansion FMAP for emergency Medicaid.

SUBCHAPTER B—PREVENTING WASTEFUL SPENDING

Sec. 71111. Moratorium on implementation of rule relating to staffing standards for

long-term care facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Sec. 71112. Reducing State Medicaid costs.

Sec. 71113. Federal payments to prohibited entities.

SUBCHAPTER C—STOPPING ABUSIVE FINANCING PRACTICES

Sec. 71114. Sunsetting increased FMAP incentive.

The Democrats disagree with this portion of the bill, among others, but let’s look at the exact text surrounding the health care for illegals debacle.

Sec. 71109. Alien Medicaid eligibility.

Section 71109 shortens the list of eligible migrants covered by Medicaid. The One Big Beautiful Bill prohibits Medicaid for paying to assist anyone who does not fall under the following four categories: : (1) U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals; (2) certain U.S. lawful permanent residents (excluding, tourists, visitors, diplomats, and students temporarily in the U.S.); (3) Cuban and Haitian entrants; and (4) individuals in the U.S. under a Compact of Free Association with the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. Hospitals and health care providers will no longer receive federal assistance to treat people who have entered the US illegally or overstayed their visas.

Click here to read the Democrats’ resolution.

“Subtitle E” of the resolution would like to repeal changes to health care under the Big Beautiful Bill—period.

During the 2020 primary election, the Democratic Party expressed their desire to provide healthcare for illegal migrants. This is not a conspiracy. There is no grey area.