Rep. Maxine Waters may have just said the quiet part out loud. In a tense exchange outside the Capitol on Tuesday, the California Democrat appeared to acknowledge that her party’s government shutdown brinkmanship is tied directly to demands for healthcare access — including for those in the country illegally.
Pressed by reporter Alison Steinberg on whether Democrats were demanding healthcare for illegal aliens, Waters shot back: “Democrats are demanding health care for everybody. We want to save lives. We want to make sure that health care is available to those who would die, but having the help of their government.”
The remark was quickly seized upon by President Trump, who posted on Truth Social: “Maxine Waters admitted that she is demanding Healthcare for Illegal Aliens, and it’s going to be Top of the Line, taking American Taxpayers’ Healthcare away from them.”
Democratic leaders have denied that they are creating new federal benefits for illegal immigrants, framing their position instead as a rollback of Trump-era restrictions that cut off eligibility for certain categories of non-citizens like DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers. Still, critics note that Democratic provisions — particularly emergency funding routed to hospitals — could be used to provide care for undocumented migrants, a fact Republicans argue is driving the current stalemate.
Republicans had put forward a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels through November 21. Democrats blocked it, insisting on restoring Medicaid funding cuts and extending ACA subsidies that make premiums cheaper — priorities they’ve tied directly to their demand that “healthcare for all” be included in any compromise.
Waters grew visibly frustrated when Steinberg pressed her again: “So you’re good with the government shutdown, even if it means giving healthcare to people who aren’t Americans?” Waters snapped back, accusing the reporter of trying to create controversy: “Quit it. Stop it. This is the kind of journalism we don’t need. We want to save health care for all people.”
Meanwhile, the shutdown entered its second day on Thursday, with 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs. Trump has promised to turn the crisis into an opportunity, announcing that he will meet with budget chief Russell Vought to determine which agencies should face permanent cuts. “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them,” Trump wrote, pointing to “vast numbers” of federal workers he intends to cut.
The administration has already paused $18 million in federal funding for infrastructure projects in New York City, citing concerns about diversity and equity requirements.
Vice President JD Vance, attempting to soften the message, told reporters that layoffs are “not political” but admitted they are likely if Democrats refuse to budge. Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the threats as intimidation, promising legal challenges to any mass firings.
