Trump signals he may veto bill extending Affordable Care Act subsidies

President Donald Trump injected fresh uncertainty into a high-stakes health-care fight when he told reporters aboard Air Force One that he "might" veto legislation the House passed to restore enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. The comment came as Americans approach open-enrollment deadlines that could determine access to affordable coverage for the year ahead.

The House on Thursday approved a Democratic-backed bill described by supporters as a three-year extension of the expanded premium tax credits that expired at the end of 2025. The measure cleared the chamber after Democrats pursued a discharge petition to force a vote once GOP leaders declined to bring renewal legislation to the floor; such petitions require 218 signatures to bypass leadership and secure a vote.

The vote reflected unexpected cross-party support. Media tallies of Republicans who joined Democrats ranged from nine members from competitive districts to a broader count of 17 GOP lawmakers. That divergence highlights the fragility of party unity on an issue that carries both local political risks and national policy consequences.

Congressional Republicans holding the majority in the Senate have already rejected a similar bill, and the path to final enactment remains uncertain. Even if the House measure were to reach the Senate, opposition from the Republican leadership there and the president would likely force further negotiations or a narrower compromise. For now, millions of Americans face the prospect of significantly higher premiums in 2026 if the subsidies are not restored.

The timing is acute: open enrollment for ACA plans remains in progress, with many Americans required to sign up by January 15 to secure coverage for the year. The administration retains some administrative leeway and could extend enrollment windows, a step that would relieve immediate pressure on consumers but would not address longer-term affordability without congressional action.

The episode underscored broader tensions between Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans. The subsidy extension was one of several measures that exposed divisions on Capitol Hill this winter, alongside votes on war powers and spending packages that at times drew the president and his allies into disagreement with party leaders. The debate over subsidies has become a flashpoint between ideological opposition to the statute and pragmatic concerns about constituent access to coverage.

Voices on the right framed the dispute in stark terms. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas argued that "Obamacare has been a failure that's enriched insurance providers at the expense of patients," and said extending the subsidies "isn't one of [the] reforms we can and should make." By contrast, Representative Mike Carey of Ohio, one of the Republicans who voted to advance the bill, said he supported the measure because "Close to 45,000 Ohioans in our district currently have these plans, and I want to make sure that they do not lose access to a plan that they have relied on as Congress continues addressing the high cost of health care."

With the White House signaling reluctance and the Senate leaning against renewal, lawmakers face a narrow window to secure a deal before enrollment deadlines and the practical consequences of higher premiums begin to materialize for families across the country. The coming days are likely to see intensified negotiations over whether to preserve the enhanced credits, scale back their reach, or attach broader health-care reforms as the price of passage.