Democrats Ready To Reopen Government
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who represents more than 144,000 federal employees in Virginia, says he’ll support the new deal to reopen the government — even though it fails to extend costly Obamacare health insurance subsidies.
Kaine’s decision comes as Democrats and Republicans face mounting pressure to end the latest government shutdown and get federal workers back on the job.
Deal Protects Federal Bureaucrats — But at a Price
Under the legislation, the Trump administration would be required to reinstate thousands of federal workers who were laid off during the recent reductions-in-force, known as “RIFs.” It would also ban the Office of Management and Budget from issuing any additional layoffs until January 30, 2026.
If the continuing resolution (CR) is extended again, those job protections will automatically carry over for the entire duration of the next funding bill, according to officials familiar with the plan.
Kaine called those protections a “key reason” for supporting the measure — emphasizing that government employees deserve “stability and fairness” after what he described as “politically motivated firings.”
Democrats Push for More Obamacare Funding
The senator also pointed to a promised Senate vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies — a longtime Democratic priority — though there’s no guarantee such a measure could reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate or even make it through the Republican-controlled House.
“To earn my vote, we needed a plan to fix what Republicans broke in health care and to protect the federal workforce,” Kaine said. “This legislation stops unjustified firings, reinstates those wrongfully terminated, and ensures back pay for federal workers under the 2019 law I passed.”
Kaine reportedly outlined the protections during a two-hour Senate Democratic caucus meeting on Sunday night as his party worked to unify behind the deal and avoid another drawn-out shutdown battle.
Key Takeaways
- Kaine supports reopening government even without new health-care benefits.
- Federal job protections extended through January 2026 or longer.
- Democrats seek new Obamacare vote, though chances of passage remain slim.
- Trump’s economic team could face limits on layoffs through 2026.
📰 Analysis
Critics say the deal gives Washington’s bureaucracy a blank check of job security, even as ordinary Americans struggle with inflation, rising health-care premiums, and record debt. While Kaine touts the measure as “fairness,” conservatives see yet another example of big-government self-protection at taxpayer expense.
President Trump’s team has signaled it will comply with the terms of the deal, but allies insist the administration remains focused on streamlining federal agencies and cutting wasteful spending once legal restrictions expire.
