WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct 01 — Due to a lapse in government funding, the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on October 1, 2025. Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement in response to the Republican-made shutdown and health care crisis:
“President Trump and Congressional Republicans have abandoned their duty to the American people. They promised to lower costs on day one. Instead, they have made decision after decision that is driving prices up. Republicans gutted Medicaid — which provides health care for 4.5 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) — and they are ripping away tax credits that help Americans afford health insurance, doubling premiums for over 1.5 million AANHPIs.
“As the government shuts down tonight, Democrats are in Washington, D.C. to do our jobs while House Republicans are on vacation. They would rather close the government instead of addressing the health care crisis they manufactured.
“To my Republican colleagues: put aside the partisanship and put the American people first. Democrats are ready to work together on a bipartisan solution to address the health care crisis and reopen the government, but we refuse to allow our AANHPI communities to be used as pawns in your political games.”