Key facts
- The Trump administration is sending $2.35 billion in direct payments to millions of Americans.
- Payments are being distributed weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
- Seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B will receive $90 payments.
- 950,000 people using healthcare.gov will receive $500 payments.
- The administration announced $150 million in new funding for Alaskan power lines.
The Trump administration is distributing $2.35 billion in direct payments to millions of Americans in the weeks leading up to the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress.
The government will send a $90 payment to 20.8 million people enrolled in Medicare Part B, the medical-insurance portion of the health plan for seniors. The White House stated these one-time payments are intended to help offset rising healthcare costs and will be drawn from a $2 billion fund meant to improve the program. However, not all Medicare enrollees will qualify, with exclusions for low-income individuals whose Part B premiums are covered, high-income individuals paying extra fees, and those in privately run Medicare Advantage programs. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month.
Additionally, the administration has sent $500 payments to 950,000 individuals who purchase health insurance through the government-run healthcare.gov portal. Many of these recipients have experienced sharp premium increases after a subsidy package expired at the end of 2025. The White House attributes these payments to excessive fees set under former President Joe Biden. Similar to the Medicare payments, these checks will not be distributed to all 19 million Obamacare users, excluding those with subsidized coverage and individuals in states with their own marketplaces. A Reuters analysis indicated that approximately 71% of eligible recipients reside in states with competitive US Senate or gubernatorial elections.
Earlier, on September 9, President Trump proposed a $5,000 payment to all US adult citizens, an initiative that would cost an estimated $1.2 trillion, or about 16% of the federal budget, if Republicans retained congressional control. This proposal has faced limited traction in Congress, which would need to approve it.
In separate actions, the Trump administration announced $150 million in new funding for power lines in Alaska on October 5. The same day, Vice President JD Vance campaigned in the state for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is in a close reelection race. The week prior, Trump announced plans for a liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska, though Vance noted that details still require further development.