President Trump is amping up criticism of congressional Democrats for opposing funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, claiming that roughly 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay due as a partial government shutdown heads into it sixth day are Democrats.
“Have the Democrats finally realized that we desperately need Border Security and a Wall on the Southern Border. Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking, Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country,” he tweeted. “Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?”
Have the Democrats finally realized that we desperately need Border Security and a Wall on the Southern Border. Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking,Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country. Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2018
Trump did not offer any evidence to back up his claim.
More than 350,000 federal workers have been on furlough since midnight on Dec. 21.
Another 420,000 federal workers who are considered too essential are forced to work without pay.
The message contrasted with Trump’s Christmas morning claim, when he told reporters “many of those workers” had told him to keep the government shuttered “until you get the funding for the wall.”
“These federal workers want the wall,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
The cause of the stalemate is Trump’s demand for $5 billion in funding for his border wall. Congressional Democrats have rejected that figure and made counteroffers at a price tag of under $2 billion.
The deadlock doesn’t appear to have an end date any time soon. At this point, it’s likely to extend into the new Democratic House majority, which begins on Jan. 3.
The Senate is set to convene at 4 p.m. Thursday, but no votes are scheduled.
The Republican-controlled House, which passed legislation with $5 billion in border wall funding, is out of session. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said Wednesday that it will give lawmakers 24 hours’ notice of any expected votes in the chamber — but none are scheduled for Thursday.
Trump’s tweet prompted backlash from a top Democrat, who represents large swaths of federal workers. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., argued that federal workers are not partisan as characterized by the president.
“This is outrageous,” Warner said in a tweet.
This is outrageous. Federal employees don’t go to work wearing red or blue jerseys. They’re public servants. And the President is treating them like poker chips at one of his failed casinos. https://t.co/bxkt67E9Bq
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) December 27, 2018
“Federal employees don’t go to work wearing red or blue jerseys. They’re public servants. And the President is treating them like poker chips at one of his failed casinos,” Warner said.
The Office of Personnel Management posted on Twitter Thursday morning a link to letter templates for federal workers to use in talking with creditors, landlords, or the like during the shutdown.
“If you need legal advice please consult with your personal attorney,” OPM said in the post.
“As we discussed, I am a Federal employee who has recently been furloughed due to a lack of funding of my agency. Because of this, my income has been severely cut and I am unable to pay the entire cost of my rent, along with my other expenses,” one of the sample letters reads.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., had similar criticism for Trump in a tweet: “Whoa. These shutdown workers work for the FBI & TSA (not GOP or DNC). They signed up to protect us & work for America regardless of party.”
