Senator John Thune, US Senator for South Dakota | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator John Thune, US Senator for South Dakota | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) addressed the Senate on the sixth day of the ongoing government shutdown, attributing responsibility for the closure to Democratic lawmakers. In his remarks, Thune criticized Democrats for what he described as their refusal to accept a "clean, nonpartisan funding extension" and said this decision has led to negative effects for Americans.
Thune referenced a Reuters report highlighting that the shutdown is threatening food aid programs for low-income Americans, specifically mentioning the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). He stated that while the Trump administration's Agriculture Department is attempting to keep WIC running, funds are critically low and will not be replenished until an agreement is reached to reopen the government.
"Democrats own this," Thune said. "They own any lapse in funding for critical food aid programs, just as they own every other negative effect of this shutdown."
He emphasized that Republicans had not asked Democrats to accept new policies or partisan measures but only to agree to a bill similar to those supported during previous administrations. "We simply asked them to agree to a clean, nonpartisan bill. The same kind of bill...that they voted for 13 times – 13 times – during the Biden administration," Thune noted.
Thune also cited statements from outside sources supporting his position. Quoting the president of the Teamsters union: "'A shutdown will hurt working people. Period. … Senators should … pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill.'" He further referenced a journalist who described the continuing resolution as one that would normally receive broad Democratic support because it contains no partisan riders and extends several Democratic priorities.
According to Thune, three Democratic senators have voted with Republicans in favor of reopening the government. He expressed hope that more Democrats would join them in upcoming votes so that legislative work could resume.
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