National News
Senate Democrats seek investigation into Trump shutdown messaging
NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
Senate Democrats are calling for an investigation into what they are saying are “partisan messaging” the Trump administration used on official authorities web sites through the longest authorities shutdown in US historical past.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Adam Schiff of California and others are urging the nonpartisan Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) to launch an investigation into whether or not the Trump administration crossed a line and broke federal legal guidelines over posts on official authorities web sites blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
“Some businesses’ bulletins appeared to include nothing aside from partisan messaging and lacked any connection to official enterprise,” lawmakers wrote in a letter despatched to GAO on Nov. 9.
Specifically, the lawmakers pointed to posts on the Division of Housing and City Improvement’s web site, which acknowledged through the shutdown: “The Radical Left goes to close down the federal government and inflict monumental ache on the American individuals until they get their $1.5 trillion want listing. The Trump Administration desires to maintain the federal government open for the American individuals.”
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER DESTROYS SENATE COLLEAGUES FOR SAYING IN SHUTDOWN DEAL
Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Adam Schiff of California and others are urging the nonpartisan Authorities Accountability Workplace to launch the investigation. (Charlie Neibergall/The Related Press)
Because of this, lawmakers questioned whether or not the assertion and different statements from particular person businesses violated federal regulation, which prohibits the usage of federal funds for “publicity or propaganda functions.”
“The longstanding federal appropriations regulation prohibits the manager department from utilizing federal funds ‘for publicity or propaganda functions,’ together with for purely partisan supplies,” the lawmakers wrote of their letter. “Federal regulation additionally prohibits businesses from utilizing any appropriated funding, immediately or not directly, to generate publicity supposed to affect Congress in supporting or opposing laws or appropriations.”
However Hans von Spakovsky, a senior authorized fellow on the conservative suppose tank Heritage Basis, stated Democrats need to distract from their position within the shutdown.
THE GOVERNMENT CONCLUDES THE SPENDING AGREEMENT AFTER CONGRESS
“That is an absurd declare and only a publicity stunt by Democrats determined to distract from their failures,” Spakovsky stated in an announcement to Fox Information Digital on Friday. “It was completely proper in charge Democrats for the shutdown, as they voted greater than a dozen instances to protect the federal government shutdown. The reality is an absolute protection in opposition to any declare of partisan reporting.”
The White Home expressed comparable sentiments in an announcement to Fox Information Digital on Monday.
“It’s an goal proven fact that Democrats are accountable for the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration merely shared the reality with the American individuals,” White Home spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated in an announcement.
GAO spokesperson Jessica Baxter instructed Fox Information Digital Friday that the group has obtained the request and is within the strategy of evaluating the request.
Senator Adam Schiff, D-California, speaks at a press convention introducing the 2025 Assault Weapons Ban on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
THE 5 LONGEST GOVERNMENT UTDOWNS IN HISTORY: WHAT HAPPENED, HOW THEY ENDED
“I can verify that GAO has obtained this congressional request,” Baxter stated. “GAO has a course of it goes by means of to find out if we’re doing work and when, what we’re engaged on now.”
Different lawmakers who signed the letter embody Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Trump signed a invoice Wednesday to refund the federal government because the fallout from the funding loss started to mount — together with missed paychecks for federal staff and airline delays attributable to air site visitors controller staffing shortages.
The White Home is seen the day after President Donald Trump introduced US navy strikes on nuclear websites in Iran on June 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Carter/Getty Pictures)
The invoice maintains the federal government’s funding at fiscal yr 2025 spending ranges by means of Jan. 30, to present lawmakers the chance to safe an extended appropriations measure for fiscal yr 2026.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The shutdown got here as Republicans and Democrats have been sparring over varied well being care provisions to incorporate in a possible funding measure. Trump and Republicans alleged that Democrats wished to supply well being care to unlawful immigrants, and pointed to a provision that may repeal a part of Trump’s tax and home coverage invoice referred to as the “large, lovely invoice” that lowered entry to Medicaid for non-U.S. residents.
However Democrats stated that was not the case, saying as a substitute that they wish to completely prolong sure Reasonably priced Care Act subsidies that expire on the finish of 2025.