why are democrats shutting down the government

Democrats are shutting down the government because they are refusing to support a Republican funding bill unless it includes extensions of expiring health care benefits, especially related to Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts. This standoff reflects broader disagreements over health care policy and budget priorities. Democrats demand the continuation of health care tax credits and oppose budget reductions to programs like Medicaid, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, while Republicans insist on passing a "clean" funding bill without these conditions. The failure to reach a compromise by the deadline results in a government shutdown with furloughs for many federal workers and disruptions in certain services.