White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized congressional Democrats on Tuesday for refusing to advance a deal to reopen the government, as the shutdown nears a record duration. Speaking from the White House briefing room, Leavitt called the impasse “a total disgrace,” accusing lawmakers of putting politics ahead of the American people.
She emphasized the growing toll of the shutdown on federal workers, government services, and the U.S. economy — particularly warning of “catastrophic” disruptions to air travel. Leavitt noted that thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA employees are working without pay, raising concerns about safety and delays as the busy holiday travel season approaches.
The press secretary urged immediate bipartisan action to fund the government, saying, “Every day this continues, families suffer and the nation’s stability is put at risk.” The White House maintains that it is ready to negotiate but insists Democrats must come to the table with what Leavitt called “a serious offer.”
Analysts say her remarks reflect rising pressure on both parties as public frustration mounts and the shutdown begins to affect everyday life. The administration continues to face growing questions over how long it can sustain federal operations under the current standoff.
The shutdown, now stretching past a month, has already disrupted a range of essential services and could soon become the longest in U.S. history if no agreement is reached.
00:00We are now on day 35 of the Democrat government shutdown.
00:06The Democrats' obstructionism will break the record for the longest government shutdown in American history tonight.
00:13The Democrats are intentionally hurting American families, workers, and businesses with this shutdown
00:19to fight for free health care for illegal aliens and to appease their radical left-wing base.
00:26And it's a total disgrace.
00:27This past weekend, Americans traveling to weddings, funerals, vacations, and meetings
00:33faced significant flight disruptions at airports across the country because of staffing shortages.
00:40On Sunday alone, more than 5,000 flights traveling to and from U.S. airports were delayed.
00:47Since the Democrat shutdown began, four times as many staffing shortages have been reported
00:52at air traffic control facilities compared to last year.
00:56TSA checkpoint wait times ballooned past three hours at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport,
01:03with some passengers enduring up to five hours in line.
01:07At nearby William P. Hobby Airport in Texas, security wait times are routinely exceeding one hour.
01:14More than 13,000 air traffic controllers are continuing to work without pay.
01:18Because of the Democrats, these men and women who keep our airspace safe and moving will miss a second paycheck in a row this Friday if Democrats refuse to open the government.
01:30Let me be clear to our incredible air traffic controllers across the country.
01:35President Trump and Republicans want you to get your paychecks.
01:39They want you to be paid.
01:42Please call on your Democrat senators and tell them to side with President Trump and Republicans to vote to reopen the government.
01:50Our nation's four largest airlines, United, Delta, American, and Southwest,
01:56have now all endorsed the Republican, nonpartisan, clean funding bill to end the government shutdown.
02:02Major unions, collectively representing tens of thousands of pilots, have also joined the airlines in calling on Democrats to pass the clean, nonpartisan CR.
02:12The travel industry is also imploring Democrats to end the shutdown and reopen the government.
02:17Nearly 500 companies and groups in the travel business, including casinos, hotels, and convention bureaus,
02:24signed a public letter warning that America's travel economy has already lost $4 billion due to this Democrat shutdown.
02:32And they have called for the Republican CR to be passed, saying Americans expect and deserve a fully functioning federal government
02:40during the peak holiday travel season.
02:44Never before have we seen private industry and union leadership so unified on the same issue,
02:50rallying behind Republicans in such a vocal way.
02:53The Democrats have completely lost the plot.
02:57They are endangering the safety, prosperity, and livelihoods of millions of Americans.
03:02It's well past time Democrats do what they did 13 times under Joe Biden and pass the clean funding bill extension.
03:10All we need are five Democrat senators to put country over party and vote to end this reckless shutdown.
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