The White House has expressed strong disapproval of Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., following his controversial remarks regarding the ongoing government shutdown. In an interview with Punchbowl News, Schumer claimed that the longer the shutdown persists, the better it becomes for the Democrats. “Every day gets better for us,” Schumer reportedly stated, emphasizing that the party had prepared strategically for this moment, particularly focusing on healthcare issues by September 30.
Republican leaders have pointed fingers at Schumer, arguing that the shutdown was a tactic aimed at appeasing the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. This comes amid rising concerns about Zohran Mamdani's lead in the New York City mayoral race and speculation over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., potentially challenging Schumer in the next primary election, despite her not having officially declared her candidacy.
White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson sharply criticized Schumer's comments, suggesting that his remarks indicate a callous disregard for the suffering of the American people. “Workers are missing paychecks; travelers are missing flights; businesses are struggling; military families are forced to rely on food pantries; but to Chuck Schumer, that means ‘every day gets better,’” Jackson stated. She urged Democrats to recognize the pain inflicted on Americans and called for the government to be reopened immediately.
In response to inquiries from Fox News Digital, Schumer's office shared an excerpt from his remarks on the Senate floor. He argued that “every day that Republicans refuse to negotiate to end this shutdown, the worse it gets for Americans,” reinforcing the Democrats' position that the shutdown is directly related to the need for healthcare reform. Schumer emphasized that families are becoming increasingly aware of the implications of Republican policies on their healthcare and financial stability.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the administration's concern regarding Schumer's claim that the shutdown benefits Democrats. She highlighted the hardships faced by federal workers and military families, stating, “While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that ‘every day gets better’ for them.” Leavitt described Schumer's remarks as both “disgusting and revealing.”
During a recent Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump criticized Schumer and the Congressional Democrats for allegedly holding the federal government hostage. He suggested that Schumer's fear of a potential challenge from Ocasio-Cortez could lead to his early retirement, citing poor polling numbers as a contributing factor.
On Wednesday, the White House announced plans to increase the consequences of the shutdown. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) hinted that there might not be any guarantees of backpay for federal workers currently furloughed, a stark deviation from a 2019 law established during Trump's administration following a lengthy shutdown. This threat of furloughed workers missing out on backpay raises the stakes for Congress to pass a funding measure, intensifying the pressure on Democrats as Trump continues to hold them accountable for the ongoing crisis.
As the situation evolves, both parties are gearing up for a heated battle over the implications of the shutdown, healthcare reform, and the political fallout that could ensue.
