White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the partial government shutdown, which is only pausing funding for the Department of Homeland Security, on Thursday.
“Democrats are the reason that the Department of Homeland Security is currently shut down,” Leavitt said.
“They have chosen to act against the American people for political reasons and now we have FEMA workers, the men and women of the United States Coast Guard, the men and women of TSA, who keep our airports moving, who will be working without paychecks for no good reason other than the Democrats wanting to pick a fight with Donald Trump and the president thinks that is irresponsible and despicable.”
The partial government shutdown began on Saturday with the Trump administration and Republicans unable to reach a deal with Democrats, who called for major reforms for ICE in the wake of Alex Pretti and Renee Good’s death.
On February 4 — ten days before the shutdown deadline — Democrats sent the White House a ten point list of requirements for funding to be restored which included agents being unmasked and instituting tighter warrant requirements. Republican lawmakers received the list just a few days after.
The White House sent its own list of requirements in return, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called “not serious.”
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“Last night, they sent over a counterproposal that frankly was very unserious, and we hope they get serious very soon because Americans are going to be impacted,” Leavitt shared during the briefing.
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