Vice President JD Vance accused Democrats in Congress of “holding the American people’s government hostage” by refusing to vote in favor of their temporary funding bill, asserting a position President Donald Trump has maintained.
Vance, joined by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, lamented about air traffic controllers going unpaid for a second time this month on day 30 of the government shutdown and continued to blame Democrats.
“You do not get to take the American people’s government hostage and then demand you be given everything you want in order to pay our air traffic controllers,” Vance said in front of reporters Thursday afternoon.
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are still battling over reopening the government as critical funding deadlines for programs such as SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps, are approaching.
In other areas of the government, such as air travel, some air traffic controllers have called out sick, resulting in ground stops at Newark Airport and JFK.
Trump, who is returning from a trip around East Asia, said he would not speak with Democrats about policy matters, such as affordable healthcare, until they agree to reopen the government.
Transportation Secretary says ‘go ask Democrats’ when questioned about SNAP benefits
Using a common Trump administration maneuver, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shifted blame to Democrats when confronted with questions about how the government plans to ensure SNAP beneficiaries receive their payments beginning November 1.
“Go ask the Democrats that question. Say, ‘What are you going to do to make sure people get SNAP benefits this Saturday?’” Duffy said.
“Because we’re doing everything we can on our end,” he asserted.
The Trump administration says it will not dip into emergency funds to ensure SNAP benefits get out after funding runs out on November 1, claiming they do not have the legal standing to do so.
But Democrats are accusing the administration of purposefully withholding funding from SNAP by refusing to tap into an emergency reserve of billions – a mechanism the Department of Agriculture said existed in earlier guidance and had prepared to do for past government shutdowns..
Schumer taunts Trump’s China deal as ‘BS’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer taunted President Donald Trump over his deal with China, calling it “B.S.”
“Don’t believe his B.S. Trump folded on China,” Schumer wrote.
Earlier in the day, Schumer provoked Trump by insulting his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, leading the president to angrily post on Truth Social.
Vance accuses Democrats of ‘holding American people’s government hostage’
Vance asserted Democrats were holding the government “hostage” by refusing to vote for the Republicans’ continuing resolution bill that would keep the government temporarily funded.
Mirroring language from Trump, Vance claimed Republicans would talk about policy but not while the government was shutdown.
“To any Democrat in the United States Senate, we are happy to talk about any policy issue, we’re happy to talk about healthcare policy, we’re happy to talk about tax policy, we’re happy to talk about regulatory policy but not at the point of a gun,” Vance said.
“You do not get to take the American people’s government hostage and then demand you be given everything you want in order to pay our air traffic controllers.”
Vance discusses aviation industry amid shutdown
Vice President JD Vance said he “worries” about the workers of the TSA staff, air traffic controllers, pilots and others working in the aviation industry.
As much as delays have gotten worse over the last couple weeks, he also worried about “stresses of the aviation industry” in light of the shutdown, Vance said, noting workers aren’t getting paid.
The shutdown has dragged on for 30 days.
“This is something that every single American should be able to agree on: open the government,” he said at a press conference Thursday. “It’s causing way too many problems.”
Federal agencies are backing plans to ban top-selling home internet router because of national security fears: report
Top federal agencies are reportedly hoping to ban future sales from one of the most popular home internet router brands in the U.S., citing China-related national security concerns.
Josh Marcus reports:
Top Trump officials Miller, Noem and Rubio adopt bunker mentality with housing reserved for military officers: report
Top members of Donald Trump’s White House are reportedly living in homes typically reserved for top military brass in Washington, D.C., as they pull back from neighborhoods where their presences were often targeted for protests by the many Democrats who make the capital region their homes.
Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently joined a growing list of cabinet secretaries and advisers who’ve chosen to live in reserved military housing, with Rubio moving onto “Generals Row” in Fort McNair and Miller also living in the area after abandoning his digs in Arlington, The Atlantic reported.
They join Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who moved into military housing earlier this year, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is alone among his compatriots in finding some precedent for his decision to move onto Generals Row alongside Rubio.
Noem denies Prtizker’s request to ‘pause’ Operation Midway Blitz
When asked about pausing the operations, Noem said the department was “absolutely not willing” to pause any enforcement, claiming it was keeping cities and children safer.
“The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and I think unfortunate that he does not recognize how important the work that we do is,” Noem said.
Administration limits number of refugees to mostly white South Africans
The news, published in the Federal Register Thursday, was anticipated.
The plan was reportedly presented to the White House by officials from the State Department and Homeland Security would give preference to English speakers and Europeans, proposals that refugee groups and advocates say undermine the nation’s moral and legal fabric.
JD Vance slammed for saying he hopes his Hindu wife Usha will ‘join Christianity’ at Charlie Kirk event
Vice President JD Vance is facing sharp criticism after he told a group of college students in Mississippi that he hopes his Hindu wife, second lady Usha Vance, will give up her own faith and become a Christian.
“I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually, my wife comes to see it the same way,” he said.
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Pritzker asks Trump to ‘pause’ federal operations over Halloween weekend: ‘give the children a break’
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appealed to senior members of the Trump administration who are overseeing federal immigration operations in Chicago, asking them to “pause” for Halloween weekend to allow children to safely trick-or-treat.
“The Department of Homeland Security claims their highest priority is to protect children, so today I have to ask them, please live up to those ideals,” Pritzker said in a press conference Thursday morning.
“They’ve disrupted everything for more than two months already. Give the children and the families of Illinois a break.”
Pritzker, who has been pushing back against the administration as they send federal agents from various agencies and seek to send members of the National Guard into Chicago.
“Can we agree there is no imminent threat that should disrupt their holiday?” Pritzker said. “No child in America should have to go trick-or-treating in fear that they might be confronted by armed federal agents and have to inhale tear gas.”
“I honestly can’t even believe that I have to make this plea. This is not the America I know.”
