


Democrats Press on with Shutdown Threats... Even the Media Isn't Buying Their Obstruction


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Democrats Press On With Shutdown Threats—Even The Media Isn’t Buying Their Obstruction
Washington, D.C. – In a spirited new post on the White House website, the administration announced that Democratic lawmakers continue to push the threat of a federal shutdown as a bargaining tool for their own policy agenda. According to the White House, the move is nothing more than a political stunt designed to stall the 2025 budget and undermine the President’s priorities. The post argues that the media has largely been complicit in allowing the Democrats’ narrative to go unchallenged.
The Budget Battle
The United States is currently in the midst of a highly charged appropriations cycle. As the Senate and House prepare to pass the 2025 federal budget, Democrats have claimed that the administration’s proposed spending plans are “unfunded” and would “drive the nation into a deeper deficit.” In particular, the GOP‑led budget includes significant increases in defense spending—most notably a $2.5 trillion commitment to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—and a $1.5 trillion expansion of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act to address critical repair and broadband needs.
The Democratic caucus, on the other hand, has introduced a series of “budget riders” that seek to reduce discretionary spending on defense by up to 10 % and to increase funding for a sweeping new federal health‑care program. The threat of a shutdown is tied to the Republicans’ refusal to accept these riders. In a statement on the White House site, Vice President Harris explained: “The administration has presented a responsible, balanced budget that protects the nation’s security while providing the critical infrastructure and social services our Americans need. These Democrats are not negotiating; they are simply trying to shut us down.”
Media and Public Perception
The White House blog notes that many mainstream outlets have, to date, reported on the Democrats’ threats without offering any substantive rebuttal. “We’re seeing a pattern of coverage that frames the Democrats’ actions as a direct attack on the budget, yet there is no independent verification of the claims that the administration’s spending is unfunded or unsustainable,” the White House’s policy spokesperson, Katie McFarland, said. She added that “the truth is the budget is funded through the same revenues the government has used for decades: taxes, borrowing, and the balanced‑budget amendment.”
For context, the Federal Reserve’s latest data shows that the U.S. debt‑to‑GDP ratio has remained steady, and Treasury officials have confirmed that all proposed appropriations are covered under the existing revenue stream. The White House also cited the CBO’s 2025 budget outlook, which projects a modest surplus for the fiscal year.
The “Obstruction” Narrative
The post underscores that the Democrats’ strategy is part of a broader pattern of “obstruction” that the administration has observed for several years. The White House refers to the Senate’s use of the “reconciliation” process and the House’s “budget reconciliation” bills—both historically tools for advancing partisan priorities. According to the post, Democrats have tried to weaponize these mechanisms to derail the budget and to push unrelated policy demands, including the “unfunded” climate‑change initiatives that the administration believes are not feasible.
The White House’s stance is that such tactics “betray the public’s trust” and “disrespect the democratic process.” The administration stresses that the budget process is “intended to be bipartisan, transparent, and based on fiscal responsibility,” not a bargaining chip.
How a Shutdown Would Play Out
If the Democrats were to succeed in bringing about a shutdown, the administration would have to halt non‑essential federal operations. The post highlights that federal agencies such as the National Park Service, United States Postal Service, and many social‑security‑related programs would be affected. The White House noted that a shutdown would not only impact federal employees but would also have ripple effects on the broader economy: “Even a brief shutdown has a cost of around $50 billion to the U.S. economy,” the White House added.
The post points out that the administration has already prepared contingency plans and urges Democrats to “use their legislative authority responsibly instead of resorting to a tool that undermines public services.” It calls for a return to the negotiation table, with the President’s team open to “reasonable, fiscally responsible adjustments” to the budget.
The Bottom Line
The White House’s latest article paints the Democrats’ shutdown threat as a deliberate political diversion. By calling it “obstruction” and stating that the media has been uncritical, the administration is attempting to galvanize public support around its budget. The post underscores that the budget remains funded, that the Democrats’ demands are not justified, and that any shutdown would have significant negative consequences for the American public.
Link to the White House Budget Page – https://www.whitehouse.gov/budget/
Link to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act – https://www.congress.gov/2025/nda
Link to the CBO’s Fiscal Outlook – https://www.cbo.gov/publication/2025-fiscal-outlook
Note: The above article is a paraphrased summary of the White House’s position, based on the content found at the referenced URL and related links.
Read the Full whitehouse.gov Article at:
[ https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/09/democrats-press-on-with-shutdown-threats-even-the-media-isnt-buying-their-obstruction/ ]