“This is Trump 2.0: a government by billionaires, for billionaires”

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) issued the following statement as House Republicans move to shut down the government.

“The past 24 hours is the clearest demonstration yet of what Trump 2.0 will entail: the President of the United States allowing his unelected billionaire friends to control the government and enrich themselves at the expense of working people. 

“Let’s be clear: any shutdown is a 100% Republican shutdown, and the effects on working people will be devastating. Shadow President Elon Musk and President-Elect Donald Trump are billionaires who don’t even know what it’s like to worry about where the next rent check comes from or how they will pay for the medications they need or what happens if the FAA shuts down and families can’t go and visit their loved ones for the holidays. And yet they are leading scaredy-cat Republican Members of Congress into chaos, barely 12 hours after Congressional Democrats and Republicans had reached a bipartisan deal to keep the government open, provide critical funding to communities ravaged by natural disasters, support to vulnerable farmers facing bankruptcy, and childcare and Social Security checks to kids and seniors across this country. 

“Derailing a deal to keep the government functioning means a devastating holiday shutdown that would cause millions of essential workers to go without pay, families to be evicted, flights delayed during the busiest travel season, and potential disruptions to Social Security or Medicare services.

“The Progressive Caucus stands with Leader Jeffries and our full Democratic caucus to demand passage of the negotiated deal to fund government, and ensure we protect communities across this country. We cannot succumb to a government by billionaires, for billionaires.”

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