Beshear: Trump treating federal workers, families like ‘prop’ in shutdown
Related Video: Furloughed Federal Workers And Union Leader Speak Out On Shutdown, Fear Permanent Job Loss | SUNRISE
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said President Trump was treating American families as “props” amid the government shutdown.
“If he fires a bunch of people, it’s not because Democrats wouldn’t reach a deal,” Beshear told NPR in an interview published Thursday. “It’s because the president decides and actually fires people.”
“People aren’t a negotiating tool. They are not a prop. And that’s how he’s treating these families,” he added.
Prior to the spending lapse, the Trump administration sent a memo directing federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs amid the government’s closure.
About 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed during the shutdown, while the total number of proposed firings is unknown, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The total daily cost for furloughed workers’ compensation would be roughly $400 million.
On Thursday, Trump said he will meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to discuss layoffs.
“I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he added.
The White House has blamed Democrats for the shutdown, while Democrats have pointed to Republicans’ unwillingness to negotiate on funding Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire later this year and undo Medicaid cuts.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday said the party would not “surrender to the Republican effort to gut healthcare because of a Sombrero meme,” after the president posted an AI-generated video mocking him and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“Not happening Bro,” he added.
House Republicans have largely returned to their districts for the weekend, signaling a government shutdown will last for at least the next four days.