A potential compromise on health care policy is entangled in a broader government funding battle as Congress races against the clock to avoid a shutdown.

Republican lawmakers and Democratic leaders are negotiating over whether to extend pandemic-era health subsidies that helped Americans afford coverage under the Affordable Care Act marketplace. A looming funding deadline compounds the impasse. Republican leaders insist on tying any extension to broader budget negotiations, while Democrats argue that the health-care provision cannot wait.

Because Congress must soon pass budget bills to prevent a shutdown, analysts warn that lawmakers’ failure to reach a deal could disrupt federal operations and force millions of Americans to pay higher insurance premiums or lose coverage altogether. Some GOP members say they could support the health-care extension, but only if it is included in the government-funding legislation. Others warn that the health issue will be left unresolved if the shutdown takes precedence.

The standoff has senior leaders scrambling: time is short, public pressure is rising, and vulnerable populations are watching as health-care access and affordability hang in the balance.