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Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., said Wednesday that federal worker firings undertaken by the Trump administration during the US government shutdown are “not a good thing,” but he blamed Democrats for the current gridlock.
“No one wants to see these firings. This is not a good thing,” Haridopolos told Amna Nawaz, co-host of PBS NewsHour, during Semafor’s World Economy Summit. Directing no criticism at the Trump administration, however, the Florida Republican put the onus on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to get his caucus behind a clean short-term funding bill to reopen the government.
“I think it’s contingent upon him to step up as well,” Haridopolos said. “I think it is fair to say that Republicans have done their best to move this forward.”
The Office of Management and Budget moved to lay off scores of federal workers across various departments on Friday, making good on a threat to do so despite discomfort among some Republicans. At the same time, the administration has searched for funds to pay members of the US military, who typically go without paychecks during government shutdowns.
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Haridopolos called for Republicans and Democrats to have an open debate about the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies — which Democrats have demanded be extended as part of any funding measure — after passing legislation to fund the government.
“We need to look at some areas to control costs,” he said of the health care tax credits, particularly taking issue with the expansion of the subsidies during the COVID pandemic.
“I think there is a legitimate need for subsidies, but you can’t just say we’re going to accept the accelerating costs of health care,” Haridopolos said. “We can’t just say, ‘rubber-stamp COVID spending.’”
He also acknowledged that President Donald Trump, who recently returned from a trip to the Middle East to ink a Gaza peace agreement, hasn’t been fully engaged in negotiating an end to the shutdown, but predicted he would be.
“He’s been a little busy,” Haridopolos said. “I think the president will engage.”