House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected calls from major U.S. airlines to support a clear continuing resolution and end the 30-day shutdown on Thursday.
Delta Air Lines called on Congress to “immediately pass a resolution to reopen the government” and ensure that air traffic controllers and TSA agents, among other federal employees, receive their salaries. While Delta and other airline industry leaders did not mention either party by name, Republicans have consistently called on Democrats to support their clear, ongoing resolution to reopen the government. (RELATED: Democrats Can't Name Anything They Don't Like About GOP Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown)
Jeffries, however, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that he will not support the bipartisan Clean Continuing Resolution (CR) pending in the Senate, arguing that the measure is a “partisan Republican spending bill.”
🚨WATCH: Hakeem Jeffries rants about Republicans when asked about it @AndiNapier if Democrats have to pass a clean CR to pay air traffic controllers.
“These people are cold-blooded extremist liars, starting from the top.” pic.twitter.com/jCL3s4geMW
— Daily Call (@DailyCaller) October 30, 2025
“Do you believe that the partisan Republican spending bill, which has already been rejected by the Senate 13 times and which undermines the health care of the American people, is a so-called pure continuing resolution?” Jeffries told DCNF.
When asked about how the measure largely increases Biden-era spending levels, Jeffries accused Republican leaders of being “cold-blooded extremist liars.”
Legacy media outlets, however, took issue with Jeffries' assertion that the House-passed spending bill was not a “clean” continuing resolution.
The New York Times, in particular published Fact checking the Democrats' claim. The Republican proposal is not “clean,” arguing that Jeffries “misused budget jargon.”
“I appreciate people across corporate America calling on Congress to pass a bipartisan spending deal,” Jeffries continued, referring to several airlines calling for the passage of a clean CR. “We've said the same thing over the last 30 days. Time and time again, we will meet with Republicans anytime, anywhere, anywhere to reopen the government and pass a spending deal that truly meets the needs of the American people.”
Jeffries and nearly all House Democrats voted against the clean spending bill approved by Republicans in mid-September. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and most of the Democratic caucus did the same. rejected this is measuring 13 times. Only three members of the Sumerian faction have crossed party lines in support of clean CR.
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: The control tower stands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as an airplane takes off on October 27, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. A nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers has led to numerous flight delays since the Oct. 1 government shutdown. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Airline executives have begun sounding the alarm about closures impact on air travel as the government funding deadline reaches the 30th day with no solution in sight.
Scott Kirby, chief executive officer of United Airlines, joined Vice President J.D. Vance and other airline executives at a news conference Thursday in which he called on Congress to pass a clean CR as the shutdown is “stressing the economy.”
“It's time to pass a clean CR. Use this as an opportunity to go into a room behind closed doors and have serious conversations on the real substantive issues that the American people want our politicians on both sides of the aisle to solve,” Kirby said Thursday. “Let's get a clean CR and have these negotiations behind closed doors without putting American workers and the American economy at risk.”
Delta Air Lines also called for open government, issuing a statement Thursday calling on Congress to pay workers to do their jobs.
“Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clear continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers responsible for the safety and efficiency of our nation's airspace can receive the pay they deserve,” the airline said. statement said. “A system under stress needs to be slowed down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for the millions of people who take to the skies every day.” (RELATED: Major Industry CEO, Union Boss Demands Democrats Throw in the Towel and End the Government Shutdown)
Several public sector unions have also joined Democrats' calls to pass a clean CR and reopen the government. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents more than 1.3 million workers, called on the Senate to agree to the House-passed CR before the Oct. 1 shutdown begins.
“American workers are not bargaining chips,” Teamsters President Sean O'Brien. published on social media. “Senators should stop messing around and pass the House-passed short-term funding bill.”
O'Brien, who also spoke with Vance and Kirby outside the White House on Thursday, told reporters: “We have to think about the families that are going to be hurt.”
“Think about when you have to tell your son or daughter that they can't play sports because you don't get paid. Think about when you can't pay your mortgage. Think about when you can't pay your tuition,” O'Brien said. “Leave politics aside, sit down at the negotiating table, negotiate a deal, accept a clean CR now, and then figure out the issues moving forward.”
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the nation's largest federal labor union with more than 800,000 members and a longtime ally of the Democratic Party, pushed Democrats will vote on a clean continuing resolution on Tuesday.
“A strong America requires a functioning government—one that pays its bills, honors its obligations, and treats its workforce with respect by paying them on time,” AFGE National President Everett Kelly. said in the statement. “The path forward for Congress is clear: reopen the government immediately under a clear continuing resolution that will allow debate to continue on more important issues.”
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