Elk City, OK — U.S. Sen. James Lankford said the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is the result of a Democratic decision to force a standoff, calling it “the craziest season” during an interview on Exploring Energy on 96.5 KECO.
“This is the craziest season, the craziest shutdown,” Lankford said. “If you’d asked me a month ago, were we going to have a shutdown, I would have said no, because there’s no reason to it, there’s no buildup for this. But Democrats literally just determined we’re going to have a shutdown. We’re mad at Trump, and the way we’re going to express we’re mad at Trump is to have a shutdown.”
Lankford said the impacts are hitting families and federal workers. He listed SNAP recipients, Head Start, and agencies such as air traffic control, USDA, and the Department of Energy, saying employees are not getting paid. “I’ve actually gone to dispersing and asked them to hold my check,” he said, adding that members of Congress are constitutionally paid during shutdowns. “I’ve asked them to hold my check and say I’m not getting paid until my staff is getting paid. But it’s just dumb. The whole thing is just a dumb thing.”
The senator criticized what he described as Democrats’ initial offer to reopen government for four weeks at a cost of 1.5 trillion dollars, which he said included health care for non-citizens, climate initiatives, and added Obamacare subsidies. “Literally no one would take that deal,” Lankford said.
A month into the shutdown, Lankford said Democrats have not put forward a new plan to Senate leadership. He said Republicans have proposed reopening government on a clean continuing resolution at current spending levels and that Democrats have voted against that approach multiple times. “We’re in this endless loop right now waiting to try to figure out how to be able to get out of this,” he said.
Lankford also promoted his bill aimed at preventing future shutdowns by keeping government funded at current levels while forcing Congress to remain in session seven days a week to work only on appropriations. “I got 57 votes. I need 60 to actually pass it,” he said. “If we had gotten 60, we wouldn’t have this at all.”
On SNAP, Lankford said Republicans changed rules in July to limit ineligible participation by shifting costs to states when they allow ineligible recipients. He said the change is rolling out over the next year. He criticized Senate Democrats for referring to SNAP beneficiaries as “leverage,” saying families should not be used that way.
Lankford said some Senate Democrats are now urging a path to reopen, but he accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of blocking negotiation. He linked the standoff to fall elections in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia, saying Democrats do not want to be seen as caving before votes. “All we know is that they won’t negotiate,” he said.
The shutdown began Oct. 1 and continues as negotiations remain stalled, according to the senator’s account.
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