WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) renewed his call to President Trump to open the federal government without delay. Before the holidays, the Senate unanimously passed a clean funding measure, which Brown supported. The White House indicated it would support that short-term spending measure to fund the government. However, just before the holidays, President Trump abruptly changed course, withdrew his support for the measure, and shut down the government. In December, President Trump said he would be ‘proud’ to shut down the government. As the shutdown continues through its second week, Brown said hardworking Americans are the ones suffering because of President Trump’s temper tantrum.
“The Senate did its job and passed a funding bill unanimously. It’s time President Trump do his job and realize his temper tantrum is hurting real people. Employees at NASA Glenn in Cleveland are off the job, border agents are working without pay, and farmers and rural communities aren’t getting the support they need from the Department of Agriculture,” said Brown. “He’s also hurting the many Americans who earn their living as custodians keeping our public spaces clean or as food service workers serving the public. They provide government services, but too often they are contracted out. They are paid too little to begin with and when the government shuts down, they have no way of making up those lost hours or wages. These are the people President Trump is hurting, and it needs to stop.”
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