White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced rigorous questioning during Friday’s briefing as she defended the administration’s stance on healthcare for undocumented immigrants amid the ongoing government shutdown standoff. The press secretary found it challenging to clarify the White House’s position when questioned about whether hospitals should be mandated to treat undocumented immigrants in emergency rooms.
During the October 3, 2025, briefing, Leavitt repeatedly accused Democrats of causing the government shutdown, alleging they were seeking federally funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants. However, current federal law prohibits undocumented immigrants from accessing federally funded healthcare programs, including insurance under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
The exchange underscored tensions over healthcare policy as the government shutdown persisted. Democrats are pushing to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies affecting over 20 million Americans, while Republicans assert there is nothing to negotiate.
Leavitt noted during the briefing that President Donald Trump had not engaged with congressional Democrats since a meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer just before the shutdown started. She stressed that Trump’s stance was clear and he was not altering his demands.
When asked about healthcare access, Leavitt affirmed that Trump was committed to improving the healthcare system but insisted that the government must reopen first. She reiterated the administration’s point that Democrats had shut down the government to provide healthcare benefits to undocumented immigrants, despite existing federal law barring such coverage.
The press secretary’s remarks followed the administration’s announcement of a plan to address potential gaps in the WIC nutrition program through a creative solution. On October 7, Leavitt announced that Trump had authorized using tariff revenue to sustain the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children during the shutdown.
According to Leavitt’s statement, “The Trump White House will not allow impoverished mothers and their babies to go hungry because of the Democrats’ political games.” The program benefits roughly seven million low-income women, pregnant women, and young children.
The WIC program was anticipated to deplete its funding as early as the week of October 7. It operates on an annual budget of $7.6 billion, translating to a weekly cost of approximately $146 million. Trump directed officials to utilize Section 232 tariff revenue, which has generated $190 billion so far this year through levies on foreign-made cars and materials such as steel, aluminum, and copper.
Meanwhile, the administration has taken a contentious stance on federal worker compensation during the shutdown. A draft White House memo argues that furloughed federal workers are not entitled to back pay once the government reopens, despite a 2019 law requiring it. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 mandates retroactive pay for all federal employees, whether furloughed or working without pay, following a shutdown.
The White House interpretation centers on language stating employees would be paid subject to the enactment of appropriations acts ending the shutdown. Officials argue this means Congress must specifically appropriate the back pay, rather than it being automatic under existing law.
When asked about back pay, Trump indicated the treatment would depend on the specific workers involved. He noted that while the administration would take care of most people, some employees did not deserve such consideration and would be handled differently. However, he also acknowledged that the law was correct and that he follows the law.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed hope that furloughed workers would receive back pay but indicated he was not familiar with all legal requirements. Senate Majority Leader John Thune similarly stated he was not familiar with the 2019 law governing back pay for shutdown employees.
The American Federation of Government Employees criticized the White House memo as an obvious misinterpretation of existing law. Union President Everett Kelley emphasized that federal employees’ livelihoods should not serve as bargaining chips in political negotiations.
As the shutdown continues, both Senate Republican and Democratic funding proposals have failed to advance, with neither side showing signs of compromise. The House is not scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., until October 14, directing attention to Senate negotiations to resolve the impasse.