As the U.S. federal government shutdown entered its second week, President Donald Trump expressed willingness to negotiate health care reforms with Democrats, but only after the government reopens. The shutdown, which began last Wednesday, has left federal departments without funding, prompting Senate Democrats to block a temporary funding bill for the fifth time on Monday. Democrats are demanding an agreement on extending expiring ‘Obamacare’ subsidies and reversing health program cuts tied to Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ before supporting a funding resolution. Trump, in a social media post, reiterated his stance, stating he is ‘happy’ to discuss health care policies but emphasized that reopening the government must come first. The impasse has led to widespread disruptions, with non-critical services suspended and hundreds of thousands of public sector employees facing delayed salaries. Military personnel could also miss paychecks starting October 15. Trump has escalated the situation by threatening mass layoffs rather than temporary furloughs. Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, insist on reopening the government before addressing health care issues. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged immediate health care negotiations, accusing Republicans of delaying progress. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Trump’s health care bill could strip 11 million Americans of coverage, while expiring Obamacare subsidies could leave millions more uninsured. As the shutdown continues, agencies like the EPA, NASA, and the Education Department are severely impacted, while others like Homeland Security remain largely unaffected. Public opinion, as reflected in a recent CBS News poll, narrowly blames Republicans for the deadlock. White House officials warn of potential layoffs if negotiations fail to progress.