Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren forcefully denied that her party supports taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants during a heated exchange Thursday morning on CBS Mornings.

The interview came as Democrats face renewed criticism for provisions in their government funding counter-proposal that Republicans argue would restore healthcare benefits to certain non-citizens.

During the interview, host Tony Dokoupil pressed Warren on the issue, noting that the Republican continuing resolution (CR) was blocked after Democrats introduced their own plan, which Republicans said would reinstate healthcare benefits for non-citizens.

The benefits had previously been rolled back under a Trump-era law that Republicans referred to as the “big, beautiful bill.”

“Republicans say what you’re really fighting for is taxpayer dollars, as they put it, for illegal aliens. I know that’s not strictly true, but there is a provision—” Dokoupil began.

Warren interrupted sharply, saying, “Excuse me, not strictly true. It is a flat-out lie. It is a flat-out lie! There is nothing in Medicaid, there is nothing in Medicare that permits one undocumented immigrant to get one dollar of assistance. None, zero.”

Dokoupil attempted to clarify, stating, “In the Democratic counter offer, the proposal for funding, there is a restoration for Medicaid benefits for certain non-citizens that had been taken away in the big, beautiful bill as Republicans put it. Republicans don’t think those people should be getting healthcare on the taxpayers’ dime, I’m not asking on the merits. Politically, putting that in there exposes you to this talking point, this lie as you put it. Why put it in there? Why is it worth it?”

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Warren rejected the framing, insisting that Democrats are working to ensure hospitals are reimbursed for emergency care provided to patients, regardless of immigration status.

“We want hospitals to be able to provide emergency care to any patient and still get reimbursed,” Warren argued.

The dispute comes in the wake of Wednesday’s government shutdown, which occurred after Senate Democrats voted against the GOP-led continuing resolution.

Democrats opposed the measure in part because it did not include an extension of Obamacare subsidies first expanded under the Biden-Harris administration.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that permanently extending the tax credit tied to those subsidies would increase the federal deficit by $350 billion between 2026 and 2035.

Republicans insisted Congress should focus on passing a clean government funding measure before considering any long-term healthcare subsidies.

Despite most Democrats voting to reject the Republican CR, a handful broke with the party.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, along with Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, voted to keep the government open.

Fetterman described his vote as choosing “our country over [his] party,” calling the shutdown a “sad day for our nation.”

It’s a sad day for our nation.

Our government shuts down at midnight.

I voted AYE to extend ACA tax credits because I support them—but I won’t vote for the chaos of shuttering our government.

My vote was our country over my party.

Together, we must find a better way forward. pic.twitter.com/lK1gqIIi60

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 30, 2025

The shutdown is already raising concerns about the potential impact on federal workers.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Thursday that “thousands” of federal employees could face layoffs in the coming days if Congress does not move to reopen the government.

The exchange between Warren and Dokoupil highlights how the debate over healthcare for non-citizens continues to play a central role in the broader funding battle.

Republicans have said the provisions in the Democratic counter-offer amount to extending taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits to illegal immigrants, while Warren and other Democrats insist the claims are false.

The issue is likely to remain a key point of contention as negotiations continue over how to bring the shutdown to an end.