Democrats’ “shutdown games” are costing Americans billions — and President Trump says it’s time to expose the truth behind Schumer’s reckless agenda.
🔷 Opening Paragraph (Hook + Emotional Framing)
The latest Washington standoff has turned into a billion-dollar taxpayer nightmare. New data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reveals that the government shutdown is costing $400 million every single day to pay federal employees who aren’t even working — and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) says Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are to blame.
💰 “Schumer’s Shutdown Shenanigans” Costing You Big
“Schumer’s reckless shutdown games are forcing taxpayers to shell out another $400 million today to cover the paychecks of roughly 750,000 non-essential federal workers sitting at home,” Ernst told Fox News Digital.
“This political charade by Democrats to defend taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants has turned into a billion-dollar disaster,” she said. “It’s time to end the games, reopen the government, and get Washington back to serving our veterans, families, and hardworking Americans.”
⚠️ $1.2 Billion Gone — And Counting
By Friday, the shutdown’s cost had soared to $1.2 billion, according to the CBO. The agency estimates 750,000 “non-essential” federal workers are being paid for time off, thanks to a 2019 law requiring back pay after shutdowns end.
The CBO explained in its letter to Sen. Ernst:
“Under a lapse in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2026, about 750,000 employees could be furloughed each day; the total daily cost of their compensation would be roughly $400 million.”
This analysis was based on the 2018–2019 partial shutdown under President Trump — a time when Democrats also used budget brinkmanship to score political points.
🧩 Schumer Blocks GOP Bill, Blames Trump Anyway
The shutdown began early Wednesday after Senate Democrats, led by Schumer, refused to advance a Republican-backed short-term funding plan that would have kept the government open until November 21.
The Trump administration and House Republicans argue Democrats are holding the country hostage over demands to fund free healthcare for illegal immigrants.
White House spokesman Kush Desai blasted the left’s hypocrisy:
“Democrats are burning $400 million a day to pay federal workers not to work because they want to spend $200 billion on free healthcare for illegal aliens. These are not serious people.”
🇺🇸 Trump Fires Back: “Shutdowns Can Do Some Good”
President Trump said he didn’t want a shutdown — but he wasn’t afraid to use it to clean house.
“There can actually be some positives that come from a shutdown,” Trump told reporters. “It gives us the chance to cut out wasteful Democrat programs. They keep pushing for open borders and letting men compete in women’s sports — they never stop, they never learn. And remember, we won that election in a landslide.”
✂️ Cutting Washington Waste
Amid the stalemate, the Trump administration is preparing to lay off thousands of federal employees as part of a long-overdue government reform.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump met with OMB Director Russell Vought to identify wasteful agencies and redundant programs.
“It’s likely going to be in the thousands,” Leavitt said. “We’re unfortunately having to work on that today — but it’s time to make government leaner and accountable again.”
📊 The Bottom Line
- $400 million a day burned by Schumer’s shutdown
- 750,000 federal employees paid not to work
- $1.2 billion lost in less than a week
- Democrats demanding healthcare for illegal immigrants
- Trump pushing to clean house and cut waste
Taxpayers are fed up — and the message from conservatives is clear: Stop the games, reopen America, and put citizens first.