Hawaii’s Congressional delegation expressed anger and disappointment at Congress’ failure to pass legislation necessary to avoid the first government shutdown since 2018.
This is beyond deeply disappointing; it is disgusting,” U.S. Rep. Ed Case said in a statement released shortly after the shutdown began at midnight on Wednesday. “This was completely avoidable, and passing the necessary legislation remains completely doable.”
Republicans blamed Democrats for being unwilling to extend current funding for another seven weeks, which would allow more time to resolve differences on a funding bill. Democrats — who insist Republicans shoulder the blame since they control the White House and both houses of Congress — held firm that agreement on a temporary spending measure would be conditional on an assurance from Republican leaders that any future funding bill would extend existing Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.
“Unfortunately, cooler heads did not prevail tonight, and the government has been forced to shut down,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. “As a result, federal workers will be furloughed and programs that support people across Hawaii will be interrupted. We will continue working every day to reopen the government, and my office will remain open to help residents in any way we can during this difficult time.”
The Hawaii delegation had been emphasizing the potential expiration of premium subsidies at the end of the year — and the subsequent spiking of health care coverage costs — as their central issue as the deadline to pass legislation drew near.
“People are going to lose their health care,” Schatz said during a speech on the Senate floor on Monday. “This is not a joke. This is not a political talking point. This is what’s going to happen across the country. The idea that this is some Democratic priority or independent priority or Republican priority is nonsense. Tens of millions of people are specifically going to see a 114% increase, and everybody else is in the same risk pool. This is a very damaging issue for Republicans, and if we were terribly cynical, we would just let them stew in it. But we want to solve it because we care in our bones about the people we represent.”
In a video message posted to her social media accounts, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, accused Congressional Republicans of “happily getting rid of” tax credits that help subsidize health care coverage.
“They expect me … and my fellow Democrats to just lie flat and have the Republicans roll right over us as they take away your health care affordability,” she said. “I’m going to fight it every step.”
And while President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Mike Johnson indicated that the subsidies could be extended if other aspects of the ACA are also negotiated, hardliners in the party remained committed to letting the subsidies expire.
In a post to the social media platform X, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said Republican leadership “must not cut a ‘deal’ at the 11th hour to extend the very COVID-era inflationary subsidies crushing working families with unaffordable ‘insurance.’ We’ve never voted for them. We shouldn’t now. Choose #HealthcareFreedom over mandates. Do. Not. Blink.”
With the shutdown in effect, the Hawaii delegation is mobilizing to provide constituents with answers to their most pressing questions and resources for further help and information.
Case shared an extended FAQ in his latest e-newsletter. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda also added a page dedicated to information on the shutdown to her official website.
Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.
