Senator Markey Statement on Trump/MAGA Republican Shutdown

Washington (October 1, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after Republicans chose to shut the government down rather than make a deal with Democrats to protect health care for millions of Americans, including more than 660,000 Massachusetts residents.

"Make no mistake: Donald Trump owns this shutdown. Trump and MAGA Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress and have been shutting down the government since Day One of his Administration-stripping health care from millions, gutting critical research funding, and illegally rescinding congressionally approved funds. Instead of building a government that works for the people, Trump and Republicans are choosing to budget for a system that benefits only the privileged few. I refused to vote for a budget that takes money and care away from families in the Bay State-just to rubber stamp tax breaks for CEO billionaires.

"Republicans themselves are creating a health care crisis at the expense of the health and well-being of their constituents. Despite their majorities, Republicans failed to come to an agreement that would protect the Affordable Care Act's premium tax credits, which will lead to dramatically increased health care costs for over 337,000 Massachusetts residents. They failed to reverse Trump's cuts to Medicaid, which will force approximately 326,000 Massachusetts residents-almost 5 percent of the entire Commonwealth-to lose Medicaid insurance coverage. And they failed to restore funding for NIH and clinical trials that could lead to breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer's, cancer, and other devastating diseases. Massachusetts families and communities deserve better.

"We cannot let Republicans off the hook for choosing King Donald and his Billionaire Boys Club over the health of the American people. I will fight to protect health care for millions at risk of losing coverage, to ensure congressionally appropriated funds for critical research are distributed in full, and to secure universal health coverage so everyone in the Commonwealth and across the country can access the care they deserve."

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