The American people are about to face an explosion in ACA premiums — a ticking time bomb that will soon devastate households across the country. On average, premiums are set to double almost overnight, and for many families, the increases will be far worse. In New Jersey, the average family will see a 175% premium hike. In upstate New York, a family currently paying $280 a month for their health insurance will soon be charged $1,700 for the same plan — a 500% increase. This crisis begins this Saturday, when open enrollment starts. It will impact families in every corner of the country — red states, blue states, and everything in between.

Yet, as this crisis approaches, Republicans in Congress and the White House continue to do nothing. Senate Democrats are coming to the floor to warn of the devastation that will follow if Republicans fail to act. They will share stories from Americans already terrified by these premium hikes and call for urgent action to lower costs. Democrats have been asking since the summer for bipartisan negotiations to address this crisis, but Republican leaders continue to delay, insisting on fixing ACA premiums “later” — which, as Americans know, means “never.”

Meanwhile, the President is nowhere to be found. As Americans brace for devastating bills, he is overseas instead of working with Congress to bring down healthcare costs. When he is in Washington, his priorities are elsewhere — sending $40 billion to Argentina, spending hundreds of millions on personal luxuries, and giving away millions for private jets, while millions of working families and children are about to lose SNAP benefits. This administration has even ordered the Department of Agriculture to discard its own contingency plan and refuse to use $5 billion in emergency funds that could prevent hunger among parents, children, and veterans. The USDA had previously stated that these funds were available to maintain SNAP benefits, but that plan has now been erased from its website at the President’s direction.

This is not just negligence — it is cruelty. The same administration that handed out billion-dollar tax cuts to the wealthy and foreign bailouts is now telling hungry children and struggling parents, “You’re on your own.”

Republicans in Congress are equally complicit. Leader Thune continues to push a partisan continuing resolution that excludes bipartisan input and fails to address the ACA premium crisis. He claims not to understand what Democrats are demanding, but he knows exactly what the American people want — lower healthcare costs, an end to the premium hikes, and the reopening of the government. Nearly 60% of MAGA voters agree on this. Americans want action now, not later.

The House of Representatives has become a ghost town. It has been 39 days since members of Congress have shown up to work because Speaker Johnson is afraid to reconvene. He knows that once the House returns, many Republicans will join Democrats in demanding immediate action on the ACA premium crisis. To avoid exposing divisions within his party, he has effectively shut down one-half of the legislative branch.

The reality is simple: Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress. The responsibility to govern — to protect Americans from skyrocketing healthcare costs and hunger — lies with them. Yet, instead of working to fix the crisis, they are paralyzed by division and indifference. Americans see this. They know who holds power, and they know who is failing them.

If Donald Trump continues to ignore the ACA premium crisis — this ticking time bomb — the American people will hold him and his party accountable. The time for delay and excuses is over. Republicans must get serious about ending the shutdown, addressing the healthcare crisis, and putting the needs of working families above politics.