The No. 3 House Republican is accusing Democrats of making a hypocritical argument.

Democrats are resisting the GOP’s federal funding bill. The government shutdown is in its 14th day. Republicans and Democrats still cannot agree on a path forward.

The Trump administration is taking steps to prevent the military from missing paychecks this week. The administration is also beginning to lay off scores of federal workers amid the standoff.

Democrats have said they will not agree to any solution. They demand serious concessions on healthcare from the GOP. But House Majority Whip Tom Emmer argues that Democrats themselves are harming healthcare access.

They are allowing the shutdown to continue.

“They are [jeopardizing healthcare].”

Emmer told Fox News Digital this information. He pointed out that certain telehealth services are going without funding during the shutdown.

“We had a huge advance during the pandemic when it came to remote care. You’ve got all kinds of constituents that don’t live in a condensed or a dense urban area right next to a hospital, right next to a provider, they may be a distance away. And the telehealth option actually made a big difference. I know it did for our veterans.”

“I don’t know if the VA — [House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill.] made it sound like they’re going to protect that under his jurisdiction, not sure how — but I do worry about it for the private providers, hospitals. How are they going to do it if they’re not getting reimbursed?”

Emmer was referring to the Acute Hospital Care At Home program. It was originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allows healthcare providers to bill Medicare for telehealth appointments and at-home aid.

Previously this was only reserved for hospital care.

The program has become popular for elderly or otherwise vulnerable Medicaid recipients. But the ongoing shutdown has prevented Congress from being able to extend it.

The government entered into a shutdown nearly two weeks ago on Oct. 1. Senate Democrats rejected the GOP’s federal funding plan. They have since blocked consideration of the same bill six more times.

Republicans proposed a seven-week bill. It extends fiscal year 2025 federal funding levels through Nov. 21. This is called a continuing resolution.

The CR is aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time. They need to strike a longer-term agreement on FY2026. That fiscal year began on Oct. 1.

The bill passed the House along mostly partisan lines on Sept. 19. But Democrats in the House and Senate were largely infuriated. They were sidelined in federal funding talks.

Now they are demanding any spending deal also include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies. These subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year.

Democrats also introduced a separate counter-proposal. It would completely eliminate healthcare reforms made in the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It would restore funding to NPR and PBS that the Trump administration revoked earlier this year.

Democrats have said that proposal is aimed at rolling back Republicans’ Medicaid cuts. But Republicans have positioned it as the left’s effort at restoring federal funding for illegal immigrants’ healthcare. Democratic leaders panned that as a lie.

Emmer also pointed out that the Democrat proposal would revoke $50 billion. This money is for a rural hospital fund that OBBBA put in place.

“The Rural Health Care Fund is a great example. I mean, right now, it’s our job, it’s the representatives’ job back in their districts, to try and work with our hospitals to make sure that they can access the funds. Because you don’t know exactly how deep the shutdown is going to impact hospitals, providers, ultimately consumers and patients.”

Democrats claim they are fighting for healthcare by blocking the GOP funding bill. But their actions tell a different story. They are harming the very healthcare programs they claim to protect.

Telehealth services helped millions of Americans during the pandemic. Rural residents could access medical care without traveling long distances. Veterans received remote care through VA programs.

Now these services are going without funding. Democrats are blocking the bill that would keep them running. They care more about enhanced Obamacare subsidies than actual healthcare access.

The Acute Hospital Care At Home program is a perfect example. Elderly and vulnerable Medicaid recipients rely on this program. It allows them to receive hospital-level care at home through telehealth.

But Democrats won’t extend it unless Republicans give them what they want. They are holding healthcare hostage for political gain.

Emmer worries about private providers and hospitals. How will they continue offering telehealth services without reimbursement? How will rural hospitals stay open without funding?

Democrats don’t seem to care about these questions. They are too busy demanding more money for Obamacare subsidies. They want to restore funding for NPR and PBS.

The GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes $50 billion for rural hospitals. This is a massive investment in rural healthcare. It would help hospitals in areas that desperately need support.

But Democrats want to eliminate this funding. Their counter-proposal would revoke the entire $50 billion. They would rather see rural hospitals close than accept Republican healthcare reforms.

This exposes the hypocrisy of the Democratic position. They claim to care about healthcare access. But they are blocking funding for telehealth services. They are trying to eliminate rural hospital funding.

Republicans passed a clean continuing resolution. It would keep the government funded and healthcare programs running. Democrats have blocked it seven times.

They demand enhanced Obamacare subsidies that mostly benefit insurance companies. They want funding restored for liberal media outlets like NPR and PBS. They care more about these political priorities than veterans’ care.