The U.S. is facing one of its worst drug shortage crises in decades. As of September 2025, the FDA listed 287 drugs in short supply - nearly half of them critical for treating heart attacks, seizures, infections, and cancer. Hospitals are rationing life-saving medications. Doctors are switching patients to less effective alternatives. And behind the scenes, Congress is trying to act - but the system is frozen.
Two Bills, One Problem
In August 2025, Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced the Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025 (S.2665). Its goal is simple: force drug manufacturers to tell the FDA when demand for a critical medicine starts to spike. Right now, companies aren’t required to report rising demand until it’s too late - when shelves are empty and patients are at risk. This bill would change that. It would require early warning notifications, giving regulators time to step in, find alternate suppliers, or adjust distribution. The bill doesn’t say exactly what counts as a "critical drug" or what penalties manufacturers might face for skipping the reporting rule. Those details are still being drafted. But the intent is clear: stop waiting for crises to happen and start preventing them. Meanwhile, in the House, Representative [unnamed sponsor] introduced the Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2025 (H.R.1160). Unlike S.2665, there’s almost no public information about what’s in this bill. No summary. No committee assignment. No text posted online. All we know is the title. It’s meant to tackle the other side of the crisis: not just missing drugs, but missing doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Right now, over 122 million Americans live in areas with too few primary care providers. By 2034, the American Association of Medical Colleges predicts a shortfall of 124,000 physicians. H.R.1160 is supposed to fix that - but without details, it’s hard to say how.Why Nothing’s Moving
Both bills are stuck. Not because they’re unpopular. Not because they’re poorly written. But because the U.S. government has been shut down since October 1, 2025 - the longest shutdown in American history. Over 800,000 federal workers are furloughed. The FDA, the agency that tracks drug shortages, has no staff to update its Drug Shortage Portal. The system is glitching. Data is outdated. Hospitals can’t rely on it anymore. Congress isn’t debating bills. It’s fighting over funding. The Senate Republicans proposed a continuing resolution to keep the government open until January 30, 2026 - but it doesn’t mention drugs. It doesn’t mention doctors. It doesn’t mention the 98% of hospitals that reported at least one critical drug shortage in the third quarter of 2025, according to the American Hospital Association. Even the budget is working against these efforts. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing S.2665 would cost $45 million a year - a small amount compared to the $1.74 trillion deficit, but still too big for lawmakers focused on cutting foreign aid and public media funding instead.
What’s Really Causing the Shortages?
The problem isn’t just about politics. It’s about how the system is built. About 63% of drug shortages come from manufacturing delays, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines. Most of these drugs are generics - cheap, old, and low-margin. Companies don’t make them because there’s little profit. When one factory has a quality issue, or a raw material gets delayed, there’s no backup. No redundancy. No safety net. The FDA knows this. But it can’t fix it alone. It needs Congress to give it tools - like S.2665 - to force transparency and encourage diversification of supply chains. The provider shortage is even more complex. Medical schools aren’t producing enough graduates. Rural clinics can’t compete with urban hospitals on salary. Student debt pushes doctors toward specialties, not primary care. H.R.1160 could fix this - if it includes loan forgiveness, residency expansion, or telehealth incentives. But without a bill text, we’re guessing.Who’s Feeling the Pain?
It’s not just hospitals. It’s you. A September 2025 survey by the American Medical Association found that 87% of physicians have had to change a patient’s treatment because a drug wasn’t available. One doctor in Ohio told a patient with epilepsy to switch from a brand-name seizure drug to a generic - but the generic was out of stock too. The patient had a seizure. Another in Texas had to delay chemotherapy for a breast cancer patient because the chemotherapy drug was on backorder for six weeks. Patients are left scrambling. Some turn to online pharmacies - but many of those aren’t regulated. Others pay hundreds out of pocket for small quantities from overseas. And many just go without.
What Happens Next?
If the shutdown ends before January 30, 2026, both bills might get a hearing. But even then, they’ll face long odds. The Senate has 20 other bills ahead of S.2665. The House hasn’t even assigned H.R.1160 to a committee. Without action, the shortages will keep growing. The FDA expects over 300 drugs to be in short supply by mid-2026. The provider gap will widen. More lives will be put at risk. The real question isn’t whether these bills are good ideas. They are. The question is: why are they being ignored while the government sits idle?What You Can Do
You can’t pass a law. But you can make your voice heard. Call your representative. Ask them: "What are you doing about drug shortages?" Ask them: "Where is H.R.1160?" Ask them: "Why is Congress letting this crisis continue?" Follow the bills on Congress.gov. Share the facts on social media. Tell your story if you’ve been affected. Public pressure is the only thing that might break through the silence.What is the Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025?
The Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025 (S.2665) is a Senate bill that would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to notify the FDA when demand for critical drugs increases. The goal is to give regulators time to respond before shortages occur. It doesn’t yet define which drugs are "critical" or what penalties apply - those details are still being developed.
What does H.R.1160 do?
H.R.1160, the Health Care Provider Shortage Minimization Act of 2025, is a House bill aimed at reducing shortages of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. But as of now, no bill text, summary, or committee details have been made public. Its exact provisions are unknown.
Why are drug shortages getting worse?
Most shortages (63%) come from manufacturing delays, especially for generic drugs. These drugs have low profit margins, so companies don’t invest in backup production. When one factory shuts down for quality issues, there’s no alternative supplier. The FDA can’t force companies to make more - unless Congress gives them the power to do so.
How many Americans are affected by provider shortages?
Over 122 million Americans live in areas officially designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas. These are places with too few primary care doctors, dentists, or mental health providers. By 2034, the U.S. could be short 124,000 physicians.
Is the government shutdown blocking these bills?
Yes. Since October 1, 2025, the government has been shut down, halting nearly all non-essential operations. The FDA can’t update its shortage database. Congress isn’t holding hearings. Staff are furloughed. Without funding or personnel, even well-designed bills like S.2665 and H.R.1160 can’t move forward.
