House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks throughout a press convention because the U.S. House of Representatives considers U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut invoice, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 19, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries mentioned Thursday that Democrats is not going to be “intimidated” by the Trump administration’s warning to federal agencies to organize for mass firings if the government shuts down subsequent week.
“Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency,” Jeffries, D-New York, advised reporters, simply days earlier than subsequent week’s deadline for reaching a stopgap funding deal to keep away from a federal shutdown.
“If the government shuts down, it is as a result of they [Republicans] need the government to close down,” he mentioned.
Jeffries’ feedback come as Democrats proceed to dig in on their health care demands, regardless of growing strain from Republicans and the Trump administration.
With the government poised to close down except lawmakers strike an eleventh hour deal, Democrats insist that any stopgap laws embrace an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits.
The Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday advised companies whose funding expires subsequent week — and wouldn’t have extra funding sources and should not aligned with President Donald Trump’s priorities — to think about issuing reduction-in-force notices.
Jeffries mentioned that the warning, which might affect the roles of hundreds of government workers, is not going to deter lawmakers in his occasion.
“We will not be intimidated by [OMB Director] Russ Vought, who’s completely and totally out of control,” Jeffries mentioned.
“The Republican assault on health care in the United States of America has been unprecedented and unrelenting,” Jeffries mentioned.
He additionally mentioned that Democrats will “meet and sit down anytime, anewscentral.sitelace, with anyone, including the president.”
Trump earlier this week cancelled a scheduled meeting with Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over government funding, saying that he determined “that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.”
“The Republicans have determined that they want to shut down the government and hurt The American people,” Jeffries mentioned.
“That’s an unacceptable and irresponsible position.”