White House Aide Says Republicans Are Focused On 'Extraneous Issues That Have Nothing To Do With Making People's Lives Better'

As the possibility of a government shutdown looms, President Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, said that the Republicans are focused on a “shutdown and other extraneous issues that really have nothing to do with making people’s lives better.”

According to an NPR report, Zients mentioned that the funding of the government was up to the House Republicans which was settled long ago.

“Now what we have is a small group of extreme Republicans in the House reneging on that deal,” he said.

The White House is preparing to communicate with the public and federal workers if Congress fails to reach an agreement to fund the government beyond Saturday night.

Zients revealed that he does not foresee an immediate meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about the funding deadlock. Instead, he emphasized that the necessary meeting is within the House of Representatives, urging the House Republicans to fund the government.

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Despite McCarthy’s call for a meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss government funding and border policies, Zients stated that White House teams maintain regular contact with their Hill counterparts, including McCarthy.

Zients expressed concern over the impact of a shutdown on 1.3 million active troops and air traffic controllers who would forfeit their paychecks. He also highlighted that FEMA recovery projects and small business loans would be put on hold.

Zients remains confident that a shutdown would not harm the economy, at least in the short term. He insisted that as long as House Republicans fulfill their duty, the economy will remain stable and the government will function.

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