White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday slammed Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, which has resulted in countless furloughed federal employees and pending firings.
“Democrats are, unfortunately, continuing to play political games, and we are on day six of the government shutdown,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
She noted that Senate Democrats will have another opportunity Monday night to vote to reopen the government; otherwise, federal workers will not receive their next full paycheck. Additionally, WIC assistance for low-income families and mothers will soon run out, Leavitt said.
“It can be easily fully funded if Democrats simply vote tonight to reopen the government,” she said.
Leavitt noted that Monday’s vote will be the fifth attempt at passing a “clean” continuing resolution that would infuse federal operations without enough money to keep workers paid, including U.S. servicemembers.
Leavitt additionally scorched Democrats for holding federal workers, U.S. servicemembers, and the American people hostage over partisan politics. In the Democrats’ counter-proposal, they are demanding the restoration of healthcare for illegal aliens.
This would cost American taxpayers nearly $200 billion, according to Leavitt, and according to an analysis on Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s website.
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them,” Leavitt stated. “…President Trump and Republicans will not give in to these radical demands.”
The press secretary was asked about the number of federal workers who had already been fired, and in which departments, as a result of the shutdown. Leavitt explained that, at the moment, “hundreds of thousands of federal workers” have been furloughed.
The Office of Management and Budget will ultimately work with agencies to decide who will be laid off if the shutdown, unfortunately, continues.
Leavitt said that only five Senate Democrats would need to vote on the “clean” CR to successfully reopen the government. She urged constituents nationwide to call their senators “and tell them to do the right thing and end this shutdown.”
