House Minority Leader Discusses Government Shutdown on CNBC

During a recent appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) addressed concerns regarding potential Republican actions around a government shutdown. He noted that if the shutdown occurred due to Republicans’ refusal to negotiate, it would set a concerning precedent. “They’ve made this decision to shut down the government,” he said, emphasizing that a Senate rule change could allow them to reopen it immediately if they chose to do so.

Co-host Joe Kernen pointed out that discussions should center on a continuing resolution for government operations, followed by the typical appropriations process. He highlighted that the elections placed Republicans in a position to pass significant legislation. Kernen expressed that it would be unreasonable for Republicans to threaten a shutdown unless their demands regarding previous Democratic legislation, like the Anti-Inflation Act, were met. He argued that using a shutdown as leverage, particularly after a clear electoral mandate, would be a dangerous move.

In response, Jeffries reiterated that the fundamental issue lies in the lack of bipartisan negotiations from Republicans. He remarked that Republicans had not faced consequences for their actions since the start of the Congress and controlled both chambers as well as the presidency. “If they want, they can change the Senate rules and reopen the government now,” he stated. Jeffries criticized the intent behind the shutdown, suggesting it was part of a broader strategy to block negotiations and push an agenda amid an ongoing health crisis.