The White House blasted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday for saying “every day gets better” as the federal government shutdown entered its eighth day, accusing him of “taunting” Americans facing mounting financial hardship.
“Chuck Schumer’s disgusting claim that ‘every day gets better’ is a sickening display of elitist indifference as the Democrat Shutdown plunges hardworking Americans into anxiety, despair, and financial ruin,” the statement read.
The administration highlighted stories of military families missing paychecks, federal workers relying on food pantries, and small businesses forced to cut staff as government contracts stall.
A military spouse in Jacksonville said the situation was “terrifying,” describing how her family is struggling to afford rent and baby formula. “Our lawmakers who are supposed to be in charge of our country aren’t really doing what’s best for the American people,” she said.
An air traffic controller warned that financial stress among unpaid workers “directly affects safety,” explaining that “when someone responsible for thousands of lives a day is worrying about whether they can pay rent or feed their kids, focus suffers.”
A small business owner said he had already laid off five employees after the shutdown halted a federal project, calling it “a very scary place to be.”
Federal contractors and service workers echoed similar fears. “Stop this. Stop messing with people,” one contractor said. “We have families who depend on us… I don’t know how I’m going to feed my kids or pay my mortgage.”
The shutdown’s ripple effects have reached local economies. A hair salon owner said customers tied to federal agencies are canceling appointments, while TSA agents report working without guaranteed pay.
Tourist attractions across Washington, D.C., remain closed, frustrating visitors. “I’m really frustrated,” one tourist said. “It’s devastating. It’s sad.”
The White House said Americans “want the shutdown to end and know Democrats are to blame.”
The current funding impasse, which began October 1, is now in its second week. The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019, while the second-longest lasted 21 days in 1995–1996.