Metro East Sun

U.S. Representative Mike Bost of Illinois has accused Democrats of closing the government to advance their policy goals instead of collaborating with Republicans to keep it open. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Democrats claim they didn't shut down the government to fund benefits for illegal immigrants," said Bost. "But here's the truth: their plan would funnel nearly $200 billion into healthcare for illegal immigrants and non-citizens over the next decade, money that could fully cover the Children's Health Insurance Program instead. Rather than joining Republicans to keep the government open, Schumer and the D.C. Democrats shut it down so they can push their radical agenda."

The government shutdown on October 1, 2025, stems from a deadlock over appropriations and contentious health policy issues. According to Republican claims, Democrats aimed to expand federal healthcare benefits to undocumented immigrants. In contrast, Democrats accused Republicans of withholding military funding to force concessions on subsidy extensions and housing policies. Fact-checking organizations have noted that undocumented immigrants are largely excluded from full Medicaid or Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefits. This dispute has reignited debates about whether non-citizens should receive taxpayer-funded healthcare.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that federal and state governments spent approximately $27 billion from fiscal year 2017 to 2023 on "Emergency Medicaid" services for certain non-citizens. This program is designed to reimburse hospitals for urgent care rather than provide comprehensive coverage. The CBO also projects that the surge in immigration will add about $40 billion to combined Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) spending over the period from 2024 to 2034, although it does not specifically isolate costs for undocumented immigrants.

In fiscal year 2023, CHIP cost $23.4 billion. The CBO projects that the increase in Medicaid and CHIP costs driven by immigration—approximately $40 billion over ten years—would average around $4 billion per year, which is significantly lower than CHIP's annual funding level. Consequently, the scale of children's coverage programs already surpasses the incremental costs associated with non-citizen health access under current projections.

Bost, a Republican representing Illinois’s 12th congressional district since 2015, currently chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He has prioritized veterans' health care, benefits modernization, and oversight of Veterans Affairs operations throughout his tenure. His legislative focus aligns with his background as a former member of the Illinois House (1995–2015), firefighter, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.