Hegseth blasts Democrats for hitting War Department with ‘Chuck Schumer special’
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth criticized Democrats on Saturday over their handling of the ongoing government shutdown, now in its fifth day.
“We’re dealing with a Chuck Schumer special right now,” Hegseth said on The Sunday Briefing, referring to the Department of War.
“This is the vanity of one man who doesn’t want to look weak to his base, so he’s trying to look tough, throw $1.5 trillion on top of what is otherwise a clean bill to fund the government, to move along on a regular order. We’re going to fight through it, but it’s unfortunate that the Democrats are pushing politics into something when all we want to do is defend the nation, and we’re going to keep doing it.”
Hegseth, speaking against the backdrop of the Air Force vs. Navy game, discussed the shutdown’s impact on readiness and the “warrior ethos.”
“Of course [the shutdown impacts readiness]. You’ve got to pay for the stuff you’re doing,” he said.
“We’re going to do the job no matter what… we’re going to continue training, but eventually you stop paying people. You stop doing things, you stop training. You’re less ready. You’re less capable of being mission ready. You can’t maintain everything…”
He warned that servicemembers will soon question congressional leaders, mainly Democrats, about how long they intend to “hold out,” as paychecks are delayed.
“Joining the military is not a lucrative business. The generals… aren’t in this to get rich. They can make a lot more on the outside, just like the sergeants and the captains and the others who serve,” Hegseth said.
“It’s not about the money, but, at the end of the day, you’ve got to pay the bills, so, when dumb games are played by Democrats on Capitol Hill… It’s nonsense. End it, fund it and let the troops get back to what they do best, which is defending the nation.”
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats insisted Republicans are responsible for the shutdown.
“IT’S MIDNIGHT. That means the Republican shutdown has just begun because they wouldn’t protect Americans’ health care. We’re going to keep fighting for the American people,” Schumer posted as the shutdown began.
Democrats have pushed for an extension of Obamacare subsidies enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which most Republicans oppose, arguing they would increase taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Democrats also introduced a counter-proposal for a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Oct. 31 while reversing GOP Medicaid cuts.
Schumer said the White House and congressional Republicans “have refused to talk to us [Democrats],” adding, “They should come and talk to without conditions because the American people are suffering. Their healthcare is in shambles.”
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