President Donald Trump said Sunday that he “might” veto legislation passed by the House on Thursday that would extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Trump was asked whether he would veto the measure if it clears the Senate. He replied: “I might.”
Why It Matters
The ACA’s enhanced tax credits have helped millions more Americans afford ACA-compliant health plans through the Marketplace, and they remain one of the most contested health policy issues in Congress.
These subsidies were central to partisan fights during the recent shutdown, and lawmakers continue to disagree sharply over whether to keep them in place—and for how long.
What To Know
Trump has previously suggested shifting away from ACA subsidies and toward health savings accounts (HSAs)—a system that allows individuals to set aside money to pay medical costs as they choose.
HSAs generally function like flexible savings accounts for health expenses. Individuals and employers can make tax-free deposits, but eligibility typically requires enrollment in a high-deductible health plan. After age 65, funds can also be used for non-medical costs, though withdrawals for those purposes are taxed as ordinary income.
Trump’s sweeping tax package, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” expanded access to HSAs, enabling millions more Americans to use them. Critics say that expansion signaled the administration’s preference for moving away from ACA subsidies, which it opted not to renew, and toward HSAs instead.
Democrats argue that HSAs would not provide enough support for many families—particularly amid high and rising health care costs.
Still, support for extending the ACA subsidies is not limited to Democrats. Seventeen Republicans voted for the House bill on Thursday.
The vote came after Democrats used a procedural petition to force the issue. GOP leaders had blocked debate on renewing the subsidies, but a successful discharge effort—requiring 218 signatures—can bypass leadership and bring a bill to the floor for a vote.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Senator for Texas Ted Cruz wrote in a post on X on Sunday evening: “Obamacare has been a failure that’s enriched insurance providers at the expense of patients. There are many reforms we can and should make to our healthcare system. Extending the ACA’s subsidies isn’t one of them, and doing so only further perpetuates Obamacare’s damage to American consumers.”
U.S. Representative for Ohio Mike Carey, one of the Republicans who voted in favor of the House bill, shared a statement on X on Thursday: “I voted today to extend the enhanced tax credits for ACA plans. The cost of health care is still too high because of the failed Obamacare policies that removed choice and raised premiums with punishing government mandates on our working families. Close to 45,000 Ohioans in our district currently have these plans, and I want to make sure that they do no lose access to a plan that they have relied on as Congress continues addressing the high cost of health care.”
Nancy Pelosi, the 52nd speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, wrote in a post on X on Thursday: “Trump’s stinking ugly, lousy rotten bill takes away Medicare, Medicaid and ACA coverage for millions of patients — all to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Republicans must join Democrats to restore the ACA subsidies and lower costs.”
What Happens Next
The bill now heads to the Senate, though a vote date has not been announced. Reports suggest passage could be difficult, especially since the Senate voted down a similar extension in December.
That said, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is reportedly working on a compromise aimed at preserving or modifying the enhanced tax credits.
