Overview
- In a CNN interview, Sen. Chris Murphy argued the shutdown lets President Trump wield 'king-like powers' by choosing which functions resume and which workers are paid.
- The White House, through spokesperson Abigail Jackson, dismissed Murphy as 'a buffoon' and said the president wants the government open and Democrats could vote to reopen it.
- Reports identified Timothy Mellon as the donor behind a $130 million gift intended to cover military pay, a move experts say raises questions under the Appropriations Clause and the Antideficiency Act.
- The government remains closed with missed paychecks and growing concern over food benefits such as SNAP, while Senate votes have repeatedly failed to break the funding impasse tied to expiring ACA subsidies.
- Murphy suggested a roughly $20 billion agreement could quickly reopen the government, pointing to the president’s recently announced $20 billion commitment for Argentina as a benchmark.