Washington Examiner Commentary Writer Tiana Lowe Doescher suggested that the threat of mass federal layoffs from the White House is “a damn good” strategy during the government shutdown.
Doescher appeared on Newsmax’s Wake Up America Early on Monday, the sixth day of the federal government shutdown. Host Alex Kraemer asked Doescher about the seriousness of the threat from Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to make shutdown furloughs permanent.
“The fact is, these workers are furloughed. When the federal government reopened, they get paid again, but it is a political strategy, and it’s a damn good one,” Doescher said.
Democratic senators have refused to fund the government until they are guaranteed the premium tax credits initially drafted under Obamacare and enhanced in the Biden era during the pandemic.
“As a result [of the shutdown], that means that Russ Vought, OMB director, is in charge of federal disbursements. That’s the way all shutdowns go. So if you don’t want Russ Vought to be in charge of this, don’t give him the power to do it,” Doescher said. “It’s a good threat.”
A Congressional Budget Office report said permanently extending the enhanced credits would cost the government $383 billion. However, if they permanently expire, the number of people without health insurance would rise by an average of 3.8 million annually by 2034.
The Senate is expected to vote on funding the government for a fifth time on Monday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) claimed Sunday that there haven’t been any negotiations since the government closed at midnight on Wednesday.
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“Well, the last time there was a conversation with Republican leadership was in the White House meeting last Monday. And unfortunately, since that point in time, Republicans, including Donald Trump, have gone radio silent,” Jeffries said on NBC News’s Meet the Press.
Even though the House is in recess this week, Jeffries revealed that his caucus will meet virtually on Monday evening.