J.D. Vance Tells Democrats ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ After GOP House Funding Bill Fails
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance expressed frustration and delivered a blunt message to Democrats on Thursday after the GOP-led House funding bill failed to pass, setting the stage for a government shutdown.
Vance warned, “Be careful what you wish for,” as the House fell significantly short of the required 290 votes, securing only 174. Thirty-eight Republicans also voted against the bill, which would have prevented the shutdown at midnight on Friday.
Vance, who is a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of Democrats, claiming their opposition was rooted in a desire to prevent Trump from having any negotiating leverage when he returns to office.
“The Democrats just voted to shut down the government even though we had a clean [continuing resolution] because they didn’t want to give the president negotiating leverage during his first term — the first year of his new term,” Vance said.
He continued, “And No. 2 because they would rather shut down the government and fight for global censorship bulls—, they’ve asked for a shutdown and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to get.”
A potential government shutdown could have serious consequences for millions of federal workers, especially as it coincides with the holiday season. Around 2.2 million civilian federal employees could face furloughs or be forced to work without pay, while 2 million military personnel could experience delayed paychecks.
Vance’s comments reflected the growing tension between the two parties, as the deadlock in Congress threatens to cause significant disruptions for both federal employees and the broader functioning of the government.
While the Democrats continue to push for their priorities, including funding for global initiatives and policies such as censorship, Republicans, led by figures like Vance, argue that the government shutdown is a result of partisan politics aimed at weakening Trump’s position in the coming year.