GOP ‘Irresponsible’ to Recess Ahead of Shutdown, Jeffries Says

House Republicans’ decision to recess days before federal funding lapses means they will “publicly” own a government shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said.

Jeffries told Bloomberg Government at an exclusive roundtable Wednesday that the move by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to cancel the last two days the House would be in session before the fiscal year ends has created an “extraordinary situation” leading into a potential government shutdown.

“This is an extraordinary situation that Republicans are owning the shutdown, publicly, through their irresponsible actions they have repeatedly taken led by President Donald Trump,” Jeffries said in the interview at the Capitol.

Jeffries has called House Democrats to return to Washington at the beginning of next week despite the recess. Along with a closed-door caucus meeting to discuss strategy in the funding fight, Jeffries said House Democrats will bring Americans who could be affected by a government shutdown to Capitol Hill as the funding deadline draws near.

Democrats will also host people who have been affected by Medicaid cuts from Republicans’ tax and spending law (H.R.1) enacted earlier this year. Health-care has emerged as a key focus for Democrats in the funding fight, in the wake of the Medicaid cuts and looming expiration of enhanced tax credits from the Affordable Care Act.

“House Democrats will be present and reporting for duty early next week as Republicans are scattered throughout the country,” Jeffries said. “We will also make sure that the voices of everyday Americans who will be impacted adversely by a shutdown and whose health care has been devastated will be elevated in a variety of different ways.”