We’re in Week 2 of the Shutdown, What’s the GOP Been Up To?

We’re in Week 2 of the government shutdown, and many Republicans are determined to do anything other than address the task at hand. 

At the core of the shutdown is a fight for affordable health care. Over the summer, Republicans made huge cuts to programs that support working class Americans, all to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. As a result, the average American will see their health insurance premiums double. The cost increases aren’t limited to those using the ACA marketplace– those utilizing employer-sponsored health plans are also looking at higher premiums. Across the board, we’re looking at higher costs, more medical debt, and ultimately, less people accessing health care. 

So, Democrats are saying “no f****** way.” With Trump’s tariffs, costs are already skyrocketing. The price of coffee, ground beef, and eggs have already seen double-digit percentage increases this year. Car prices are up, and with that so is auto insurance. Foreclosures are surging as housing costs continue to climb. We can’t afford the cost of health care to spike, too. 

So as we wait for Republicans to end the shutdown and address the health care crisis, let’s take a look at what they’ve been spending their time on instead. 

Going on Recess (And Even Golfing!) 

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to call the House back in session– a particularly unhelpful move during a government shutdown. Johnson said that the House “did its job,” so there’s no work to be done, no negotiations to be had. By keeping the House out of session, he’s also preventing a recently elected Congresswoman from being seated. 

Republican voters are growing frustrated, and even some of Johnson’s conservative colleagues are questioning his decision to prevent Congress from getting back to work. 

“There is absolutely no reason for the House to be out of session — it’s embarrassing,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) said in an interview. “The government is shut down, Americans are losing access to critical services, workers are being furloughed and the House isn’t even in Washington.”

And in case you’re wondering, Trump is taking a bit of a recess as well. He went golfing last weekend, taking some time to enjoy the shutdown that he and his allies caused.

Invading U.S. Cities

Much of the government has slowed down during the shutdown, but Trump’s military takeover of U.S. cities has actually ramped up. He continues to push a military takeover of Portland and Chicago, and has even called for the jailing of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

During a period when he’s raising costs, taking away people’s health care, and shutting down essential government services, he’s also tightening his control over the cities he sees as opposing his policies. It’s no coincidence that Trump is marching troops down our streets as we are growing increasingly frustrated with the chaos his administration is causing.  

Social Media Trolling

Trump’s social media accounts are often a cesspool of nonsense, but it’s somehow gotten even worse during the shutdown. 

Immediately following a meeting with Democratic leaders, Trump posted a series of racist, AI-generated clips of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Soon after, he posted a clip of one White House official as the Grim Reaper, celebrating that his administration would be cutting funding for essential programs, laying off countless hard-working people. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged that Trump is “having fun” with the shutdown. At best, MAGA isn’t taking this seriously. At worst, they’re reveling in the pain they’re causing. 

Celebrating Layoffs and Threatening to Withhold Backpay

Trump has always loved firing people. The government shutdown has been no different. 

Beyond celebrating the work of his personal “Grim Reaper” who is cutting government agencies and laying off public servants, Trump’s White House is looking at the shutdown as an “unprecedented opportunity” to roll out mass layoffs. Trump said “a lot” of people could be laid off, and he said he would start by targeting “Democrat agencies”– whatever that means. 

The federal employees who aren’t laid off are at risk of not getting paid. Trump himself signed a law in 2019 that entitles government workers to backpay during a government shutdown. Now, he’s saying that they may not be entitled to backpay at all. 

With Our Health Care on the Line, We Must Maintain Pressure

The government is shut down because health care costs are spiking. Meanwhile, Trump is using the shutdown as an opportunity to withhold paychecks, lay off public servants, and deepen his assault on working class people. He’s reveling in the harm he’s causing, and his GOP colleagues are doing little to stop him. 

Each day, more and more people are receiving letters in the mail, telling them that their health care premiums will be spiking next year. Families are budgeting, planning to make tough decisions, and deciding whether they’ll seek medical care or keep the lights on, pay the rent, or put food on the table. 
The stakes are too high to back away now. Call your legislators. Encourage them to get back to work and start working across the aisle to solve the pressing issues facing North Carolinians.