The White House has postponed President Donald Trump’s proposal to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare. This decision follows House Speaker Mike Johnson's communication to Trump’s aides indicating insufficient support among House Republicans. Johnson expressed concerns that a two-year extension of enhanced tax credits, which currently assist over 20 million individuals, would likely encounter significant opposition, particularly regarding abortion coverage in some marketplace plans.

As discussions evolved, the White House opted to pause the rollout of the plan, which was initially expected to include income caps and measures aimed at preventing fraud. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated the cost of the proposed extension at approximately $50 billion over two years, with potential offsets if certain cost-sharing changes were enacted. Despite this setback, some Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Maggie Hassan, have shown a willingness to negotiate. However, the inclusion of stricter abortion-related provisions could alienate Democratic support, complicating the path forward in the Senate. The urgency of the situation is heightened by the impending expiration of the enhanced subsidies at the end of the year, which could lead to increased costs and coverage losses for many Americans.

In a separate development, Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and former U.S. Navy officer, asserted that military personnel have the right to disobey illegal orders. This statement was made in response to accusations from the Trump administration, which has initiated an investigation into Kelly for allegedly encouraging military members to ignore unlawful commands. Kelly emphasized the importance of adhering to the law, particularly in light of comments from Trump suggesting that lawmakers like Kelly should face severe consequences for their statements.

The Pentagon's investigation follows a video released by Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers, warning military personnel about potential threats to the Constitution from within the government. The video advised service members that they have the right to refuse illegal orders. Trump labeled the lawmakers' actions as seditious and called for accountability, claiming their behavior could undermine national stability. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the video, describing it as reckless and detrimental to military discipline, arguing that encouraging military personnel to disregard orders could disrupt the chain of command.

The FBI has also begun interviews with six Democratic lawmakers following their public assertion that military personnel have the legal right to refuse unlawful orders. This development comes after the Pentagon indicated it might recall Senator Kelly to active duty to potentially face military charges. Trump has accused the lawmakers of sedition, a charge that could carry severe penalties, including death. Lawmakers, including Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, have characterized the administration's threats as intimidation tactics, asserting that their statements align with U.S. law, emphasizing that military personnel are sworn to uphold the Constitution rather than follow directives from the president.

Concerns have been raised regarding the legality of military actions ordered by the Trump administration, particularly strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in Latin American waters, which the Pentagon has justified by labeling drug smugglers as terrorists. Additionally, there are apprehensions about the use of military forces in domestic contexts. The Trump administration has faced criticism for undermining democratic norms, particularly through the use of law enforcement against perceived political adversaries. Recent months have seen criminal charges brought against several prominent critics of the president, although a judge recently dismissed two of these cases. While sedition is not a charge applicable to civilians under U.S. law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice does include provisions for sedition, with severe penalties possible. Notably, several individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack were convicted of seditious conspiracy before receiving pardons from Trump. In response to the administration's threats, Deluzio publicly accused Trump of attempting to silence dissent through intimidation, stating that he had received death threats as a result of his comments. Senator Kelly, addressing the threats of a court-martial, highlighted his extensive service record, asserting that he would not be silenced by those prioritizing personal power over constitutional principles.