Medicare Staff Comeback Tour: Shutdown Fees Edition
In a plot twist sure to confuse accountants everywhere, CMS is recalling about 3,000 furloughed staff starting Monday by dipping into fees charged to outsider researchersābasically taxing nerds to fund government workers during the shutdown that started October 1. This budget magic trick was cooked up with the White House and HHS, to keep Medicare and Medicaid open enrollments (starting October 15 for Medicare and November 1 for ACA) as smooth as a bureaucratic lullaby. Meanwhile, 47% of CMS staff were furloughed, some Medicare data releases iced, and public outreach tossed into the voidāall while coverage stayed unbothered like a sitcom rerun.
Share the Story
When you steal researchers' data-access fees to pay furloughed Medicare staff, you know government shutdown ingenuity hit an all-time low-level flex.
CMS used The Dark Arts of government finance by robbing fees from outside data nerds just to keep 3,000 furloughed folks working. Congrats, shutdown budget: itās the Ticketmaster of public funds.
A government shutdown shut down 47% of CMS staff except thereās now a secret paycheck buffet funded by researchers who probably just wanted some Medicare stats, not a CMS bailout.
Source: Axios | Published: 10/23/2025 | Author: Maya Goldman
More Articles in US News
Politico Announces Australia Launch for 2026, Because Why Not Start Late?
Trump Calls Supreme Court 'Unfortunate,' Then Hits Economy with āBetterā 10% Global Tariff
Trump Promises Retirement Plan That Matches Generosity of Federal Workersā Excuses
30 Lawmakers Diplomatically Skip Trump Speech For The 'Peopleās State Of The Union' Party
Traveler Confirms Small Towns Are Americaās Scenic Waiting Rooms
Buy 1794 D.C. Home: $1.3M For Seven Fireplaces and a 1960s Time Capsule Kitchen
