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LOADINGERROR LOADING Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) slammed the Trump administration’s spending priorities in recent weeks, as several Americans are feeling the impact of the long-running government shutdown. Hundreds of thousands of government workers are going without pay, and food programs have been at risk since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, caused by a standstill over extending the Affordable Care Act tax credit, which is set to expire by the end of the year. Advertisement Without the extension, millions of Americans are expected to see their healthcare premiums skyrocket. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters Tuesday that “what’s galling is saying there’s nothing to negotiate when people from Maine to Alaska and every state in between are watching their premiums double.” However, despite the financial consequences, Schatz told reporters on Tuesday that for Republicans, the shutdown “is not about money.” Advertisement He cited the Trump administration’s $172 million purchase of two jets to be used by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior leaders, as well as other questionable spending. “There is enough money to bail out Argentina with $20 billion. There is enough money to purchase a brand new aircraft for $173 million for the Homeland Security Secretary. There is enough money to renovate the White House ballroom,” Schatz added. “What there is not enough money for under this Republican government is you. There is not enough money for you.” Advertisement The Trump administration has already drawn backlash across the board, including from the MAGA base, after pledging $20 billion to Argentine President Javier Milei, and is looking to double that through private funding. “President Trump seems to think it’s more important to offer $20 billion to bail out Argentina than it is to make a bipartisan deal to prevent health insurance premiums from spiking for over 20 million Americans in a matter of days,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said last week. Schatz also echoed outcry over Trump tearing down the facade of the White House East Wing to make room for a massive ballroom, a projection the president claims will be funded with private donations. Advertisement However, that brings into question some ethical pay-for-play policy-making. concerns. What’s “astonishing” is “that the party in charge of the government literally won’t show up to work during the second-longest shutdown in American history,” according to Schatz, noting how House Republicans have allegedly been absent from Washington, D.C.
