During his weekly call with reporters on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) took Senate Democrats to task for their role in the ongoing government shutdown.
Alabama's senior U.S. Senator spoke specifically about its negative financial impact on members of the military, veterans and other essential government workers.
"They don't care that veterans and service members are missing paychecks. They don't care that our air traffic controllers are having to take on second jobs to make ends meet. And they don't care that millions of Americans who depend on SNAP are losing access to their benefits this weekend," Tuberville argued.
"If they cared, they would open the vote and open the government, but instead, they care more about giving $2 billion in health care to illegal immigrants. "
Tuberville was direct when explaining what could potentially bring an end to the shutdown.
"A lot of you have asked me, what's it going to take to reopen the government? It's going to take Democrats exercising some common sense and doing the right thing," he said. "It seems that many Democrats have forgotten who they work for. They work for the American people, not the woke talking heads on CNN."
"I hope it doesn't take planes falling out of the sky for Democrats to reopen the government, as one Democrat aide suggested, and I hope my Democrat colleagues will join us in voting for this package and put Americans first," Tuberville added.
Last week, Democrats blocked the Shutdown Fairness Act of 2025, which would have provided pay for service members and federal personnel during the shutdown. Only three Democrats voted in favor of the legislation.
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