To the editor,
Once again, Congress has shut down the federal government, disrupting critical services and forcing tens of thousands of dedicated public servants to work without pay — or not at all. This avoidable crisis stems from decisions made earlier this year.
Over the summer, Republican leaders in Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which slashed funding for Medicaid and SNAP and failed to renew vital ACA tax credits that help families afford health insurance — all to fund tax breaks for the wealthy.
Now, communities are feeling the consequences. Hospitals are scaling back or closing due to Medicaid cuts, and millions face rising insurance premiums. These impacts are real, preventable, and worsening.
But this shutdown also reveals a path forward: Congress can reverse the harm by restoring funding for health care and nutrition programs and extending ACA tax credits. It’s time to prioritize people over politics.
Sincerely,
William Deignan
Medford
