NCJW Decries Senate Shutdown Deal Which Fails to Guarantee Affordable Health Care for Millions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 10, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the United States Senate passed a compromise deal aimed at ending the federal government shutdown — the longest in American history. This deal, which includes guarantees by Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) for a future vote on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and agreements by the White House to re-hire federal workers laid off during the shutdown, will now go to the House of Representatives for a vote to re-open the government.

In response, Darcy Hirsh, vice president of government relations and advocacy at National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) — the nation’s leading Jewish feminist civil rights organization, representing 250,000 changemakers across the United States and Israel — released the following statement:

“After nearly two months of Americans worrying about how they will cover their bills, put food on the table, and afford skyrocketing health care costs, the Senate turned around a ‘deal’ that gains nothing for the American people. This shutdown compromise simply ignores the millions of Americans — seniors on limited, fixed incomes; families struggling to make ends meet; and children who had comprehensive health coverage for the first time in their lives — whose health care premiums more than doubled just last week because of the Senate’s inaction, with many no longer able to access necessary care. National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) opposes this deal, which leaves behind 24 million people who rely on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expanded subsidies.

“As Jewish advocates, we are commanded to care for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger among us — those who are the most vulnerable in our society. This Senate-passed bill simply fails that test. While we’re grateful that food assistance benefits will resume, government workers will finally be paid, and illegal firings of federal employees in essential roles at the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and more will be reversed, we simply can’t look at this deal as anything other than what it is: trading away Americans’ health care for political benefit.

“NCJW is proud to have helped pass the ACA 15 years ago and to have fought against its repeal ever since. Long before the start of this shutdown, we’ve been mobilizing our 250,000 advocates to urge Congress to do the right thing for people who need affordable health care, accessible food assistance, and more. And we will continue holding our lawmakers accountable to ensure they pass the ACA subsidy extension in a separate vote next month in order to protect the health care of the tens of millions of their constituents who rely on them.”

This government shutdown has had a devastating toll on millions of families across the country:

• The Congressional Budget Office estimates $7-14 billion in permanent economic losses by the end of November
  • The shutdown is projected to reduce national GDP by 1-2 percentage points

• Over 1 million federal employees have been working without paychecks, and an additional 600,000-730,000 federal workers have been furloughed
  • Federal employees have been turning to food banks to feed their families — one Maryland food pantry saw lines of federal workers, and a Kansas military food pantry saw a 300% increase in traffic

• ACA premiums have more than doubled for 24 million enrollees receiving financial assistance due to Congress’s failure to extend enhanced premium tax credits
  • More than 4.4 million small-business owners and self-employed people will each lose an average of $1,500 in tax credits
  • People with disabilities—who are 50% more likely to be self-employed—face being priced out of health coverage entirely
    

• 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits had their food assistance frozen on November 1
  • After court intervention, benefits resumed but at only 50% of normal amounts and with significant delays
  • Veterans and military families have been increasingly relying on food assistance, with the Armed Services YMCA seeing a 34% increase in food requests
• More than 58,600 children in 134 Head Start centers across 41 states and Puerto Rico lost access to early education programs starting November 1

• Over 75,000 college and trade school students who are dependents or survivors of military members have had tuition payments paused

• 7.5 million students with disabilities are at risk as the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education lost all but a handful of employees during shutdown layoffs
  • Plus, the Office for Civil Rights was reduced to approximately 120 employees to handle nearly 23,000 annual cases — almost 190 cases per employee

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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 133-year-old Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 250,000 grassroots advocates and 46 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to effect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We approach our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most impacted in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.