It didn’t take long after the government shutdown started for lawmakers to cast the blame on their colleagues on the other side of the aisle — or for campaign operations to release scathing ads tying opponents to the inability to reach a funding deal.
“Republicans have control of Congress and the White House. But rather than negotiate with Democrats, Republicans have sent the House of Representatives home, canceled planned White House meetings until the eleventh hour, told Democrats to ‘go (expletive) yourself,’ and posted a racist AI video of Democratic leaders trying to avoid a shutdown,” U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, said late Tuesday.
And Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican who represents California’s 48th Congressional District in San Diego and Riverside counties, simply posted on X: “Everyone knows the Democrats shut down the government.”
With lawmakers failing to strike an agreement to fund operations, the government shutdown began late Tuesday night on the West Coast. And while work is expected to continue in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Oct. 1, there does not seem to be a compromise in sight — particularly when it comes to health care funding — to end the shutdown.
But the blame game has ensued in full force.
The National Republican Congressional Committee launched digital ads on Wednesday morning targeting several Southern California Democrats — Reps. Raul Ruiz of Indio, George Whitesides of Agua Dulce, Derek Tran of Orange and Dave Min of Irvine — blaming them for the government shutdown. The digital spot from the campaign arm of House Republicans alleges, “Democrats are grinding America to a halt in order to give illegal immigrants free health care.”
On Tuesday night, Senate Democrats blocked the House-passed bill to keep the government open and funded. Democrats have sought to tie in protections for health care subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, noting cuts made to Medicaid and other assistance programs in the massive spending bill that was signed into law over the summer.
But Democrats note it’s Republicans who control the White House, Senate and House — and accuse them of not negotiating on a deal to keep the government open and address issues like those health care premiums.
“Speaker Johnson and House Republicans rushed through a partisan bill that does nothing to prevent health care premiums from rising by as much as 114 percent for millions of Americans — knowing it had no chance of passing the Senate. They then cancelled votes and skipped town instead of negotiating,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Whittier.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Carson, said Republicans “had no interest in working with Democrats to keep government open and address the health care crisis facing Americans.”
“House Republicans were so unserious about the situation that they didn’t even show up for work this week,” Barragán continued. “Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House — they own this shutdown and this health care crisis.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, has requested her pay to be withheld until the government is back open and is keeping her offices in Washington, D.C., and regionally open, a spokesperson said.
“Last night, Washington failed the American people,” Kim said. “Government shutdowns achieve nothing and hurt the hardworking Americans we’re all here to serve. I voted to keep the government open for our families, small businesses and service members who rely on government services. Washington Democrats decided to play political games and shut our government down at the expense of the American people.”
More responses to the shutdown from Southern California lawmakers:
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino: “America is facing dual health care and affordability crises that require immediate action. Yet today, Congressional Republicans chose to shut down the government, rather than work with Democrats to lower costs or protect Americans’ health care.”
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles: “Let’s be clear: This shutdown is a choice made by Trump and Republicans — a reckless, cruel one that shows exactly where their priorities lie. If they cared about the American people or the devastating impacts of a shutdown, they would have gotten serious about governing months ago. Instead, they wasted time pushing their ‘Big Ugly Bill’ and leaving working families to pay the price.”
Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano: “The government is now shut down because Congressional Republicans and President Trump chose to let it close. Federal workers will miss paychecks, services people rely on will be delayed, and families will feel the strain in their daily lives.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democrat: “Donald Trump and his lapdog Republicans just shut down the federal government after refusing to protect Americans from an imminent spike in health insurance costs. This is what the GOP stands for.”
Rep. Derek Tran, D-Orange: “President Trump and Congressional Republicans have failed the American people and refused to deliver what hard-working families need to get ahead. Instead of focusing on an agenda to lower costs, improve health care and make our communities safer, Republicans put billionaires’ interest over everyday Americans. Republicans left town and forced our government to shut down.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.