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As the shutdown enters a second month, Democrats are dodging questions about whether their tough stance on extending Obamacare subsidies is worth leaving federal workers without pay and risking benefits through government shutdown.
Asked by Fox News Digital whether the fight over Obamacare is worth continuing as federal workers go weeks without pay and benefits lag, Sen. Elizabeth WarrenMassachusetts, responded: “We have to ask the Republican, because the Republicans agreed to exactly zero negotiations.”
“Donald Trump flying around the world, Republicans here in the Senate won't do a damn thing without orders from Donald Trump, and House Republicans are now in their sixth week of paid leave,” Warren continued. “So, you know, we'd like to sit down and negotiate, but we don't have any Republicans on the other side.”
President Donald Trump embarked on a diplomatic tour of Asia this week, visiting the leaders of several different countries both friendly and unfriendly to the United States, including South Korea, Japan and China.
GOVERNMENT LAMPS DEEP IN CRISIS STOP, NO DEAL
Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks on the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 2024. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, House Republicans went on recess and the Speaker Mike JohnsonR-La., indicating that the body will remain so until the Senate agrees to the House-passed continuing budget resolution bill to reopen the government.
When asked the same question, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine also placed blame on Trump, saying, “He has to agree to live by the agreement we proposed; so far we have not been able to get him to agree.”
“The issue that's most important to me in reopening the government is getting the president to guarantee that if we open it up, he won't tear up the deal,” Kaine added. “We have to do a budget agreement for 30 or 45 days, whatever is done, but he has to agree that if you do that, he won’t start laying off more people the next day, canceling projects.”
Kane expressed gratitude to Trump for finding the means to pay American troops“when the House refused to come back to pass a war pay bill,” saying, “I think it's important.”
However, he also criticized the president, saying: “No one should go hungry, no one should go without a paycheck. “President Trump has billions of dollars in the personnel reserve fund that Congress has allocated there at this point, and he's callously refusing to use it, and it's all on him.”
TUN, GOP REFUSES TO SELL GOVERNMENT FUNDING LAWS DURING SHUTDOWN
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. Watching on are (from left) Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Cash Patel. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Meanwhile, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., called Trump's stance “as incredibly immoral as any act any president has ever seen.”
“Funding is available as of November, $5.5 billion,” he said. “The President has the authority to distribute these funds… But the President has chosen to attack the welfare of American children as a bargaining chip.”
Faced with this question, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said, “Republicans are giving us two choices: either accept healthcare far from millions people or take food from millions of people and not pay the troops. I don't think that's the choice we're facing.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., responded, “You're talking to the wrong person.” Democratic Senator because I voted to continue the resolution 13 times.”
SENATE DEMOCRATS LOSE WHITE HOUSE WARNINGS, AGAIN BLOCKING GOP PROPOSAL TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT
The Capitol Building is seen from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Friday, August 9, 2024. (Aaron Schwartz/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking further about why other Democratic senators haven't followed suit, Cortez-Masto said, “You need to talk to my colleagues.”
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., also framed the issue as one of affordability, saying, “House Republicans haven't gone to work in six weeks. So this shows how heartless and uncaring they really are. They need to reopen the government immediately.”
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“We must also ensure that we do not cause any additional pain. We've caused so much pain to hardworking, working-class Americans who can't just afford insurance and healthcare, they can't afford groceries anymore,” she said, adding: “This administration is hurting our economy fail and our families suffer every day.”
Alsobrooks noted, “I've voted to reopen the government eight times, and guess what, Republicans need to come to the table and agree on something that allows us to both reopen this government and make sure that we make sure that Americans can afford health insurance.”
