Langevin Condemns Trump Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) issued the following statement as the government prepares for a partial shutdown as a result of President Trump’s intransigence over his border wall proposal:

“President Trump wanted a government shutdown, and now he has one. This past week, the President had the opportunity to accept a bipartisan proposal that would have kept the federal government up and running. Instead, the President doubled down on his wall funding push. Just four days before Christmas, he is delivering a lump of coal to hundreds of thousands of federal employees, contractors, and their families who may go unpaid.

“A government shutdown is never acceptable. This shutdown will cost the American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per day and will further contribute to the growing climate of economic uncertainty.

“The President needs to face reality and recognize he must drop his outrageous border wall demands. If he fails to do so, it is the American people who will continue to pay the price.”