House Democrats are criticizing their chamber’s Republican members, accusing them of being “on vacation” as the government shutdown now enters its eighth day.
“House Democrats were here last week. House Democrats are here this week. House Democrats will be here next week,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a news conference on Capitol Hill today. “House Republicans are on vacation right now, it’s extraordinary.”
Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House out of session since passing his government funding bill last month.
After a planned week-long recess around the Jewish holidays last month, Republican Party leaders informed members that the House would not meet for the next two weeks, signaling that it was up to the Senate to send the House-passed government funding plan to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The minority leader reiterated that “the caucus, in good faith, will evaluate whatever is presented by the Senate,” but that it “must be meaningful to make a difference in the lives of the American people.”
Similarly, Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern criticized Republicans for trying to impose stricter work requirements for certain programs, such as food stamps, highlighting the irony of the moment.
“Let’s get Republicans to show up in Congress and do their damn job,” he said.
