House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has accused President Trump and congressional Republicans of remaining silent during the government shutdown, which has now entered its third week. In an interview with ABC’s “This Week”, Jeffries expressed his disappointment with the lack of communication from the Republican side, stating that “we haven’t heard anything from Donald Trump or the Republicans over the last few weeks. They have gone radio silent since” a Sept. 29.
The government shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay and has caused disruptions in various government services. Despite this, President Trump has remained firm on his demand for $5 billion in funding for a border wall, which has been met with resistance from Democrats.
Jeffries, who was recently elected as the House Democratic Caucus chairman, emphasized the need for open communication and cooperation in order to end the shutdown. He stated, “We need to have a conversation. We need to negotiate. We need to compromise. That’s what the American people expect us to do.”
The House Minority Leader also criticized the President for his lack of leadership during this crucial time. He said, “Donald Trump has been missing in action. He has been AWOL. He has been MIA. He has been absent without leave.” Jeffries pointed out that while the President has been active on social media, he has failed to engage in meaningful discussions to resolve the shutdown.
Jeffries also called out congressional Republicans for their inaction, stating that they have also remained silent during this crisis. He urged them to break their silence and work towards finding a solution. “We need our Republican colleagues to step up and do their job. They control the House, the Senate, and the White House. They need to govern,” he said.
The House Minority Leader’s comments come after a meeting between congressional leaders and President Trump on Friday, which ended without any progress towards ending the shutdown. Democrats have proposed a bill to fund the government until February 8, but it does not include funding for the border wall. President Trump has rejected this proposal and has threatened to declare a national emergency in order to secure funding for the wall.
Jeffries also addressed the President’s threat, stating that it would be a “gross abuse of power” and that Democrats would challenge it in court. He emphasized that the President cannot use a manufactured crisis to bypass Congress and fund his border wall.
As the government shutdown continues, the impact on federal employees and the American people is becoming more evident. With no end in sight, it is crucial for both parties to come to the table and find a solution that will reopen the government and provide much-needed relief to those affected.
In the midst of this political stalemate, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has emerged as a strong voice for the American people. His call for open communication, compromise, and leadership is a reminder that the government exists to serve the people and their needs should be the top priority.
It is time for President Trump and congressional Republicans to end their silence and work towards finding a solution to the government shutdown. The American people deserve better and it is the responsibility of their elected leaders to put their needs above political agendas. As Jeffries stated, “We need to govern. We need to do our job. We need to reopen the government.” It is time for action, not silence.
