Reporter’s Notebook: White House slams top Democrat for saying shutdown gives party ‘leverage’

Senate Republicans are forcing Democrats to take a stand today – vote to pay expected (so-called essential) federal workers during the shutdown or risk appearing anti-worker.

The bill, introduced by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Todd Young, R-Ind., would pay troops, TSA duty officers, air traffic controllers and law enforcement.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., says it’s a “political ploy” to let Trump “pick” who gets paid.

WHITE HOUSE MAY ‘LACK’ FUNDS TO PAY MILITARY IF SHUTDOWN CONTINUES, JOHNSON WARNS

Senator Ron Johnson arrives at the Senate committee hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, April 3, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

House Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., conceded to Fox News in a now-viral clip that there will be “families that are going to suffer” because of the shutdown, but added that “this is one of the few moments of leverage that we have.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pounced, saying Democrats were “admitting” to inflicting pain and asking, “What is wrong with them?”

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark speaks during a news conference with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar as the government shutdown continues in Washington, October 1, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Clark fired back, accusing the White House of “spinning the dispute” and inflicting “trauma” by laying off workers.

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However, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., called out his own party on Fox News’ “Hannity,” saying, “I’m a party-first guy…It’s wrong to shut down our government.”

Senator John Fetterman speaks to reporters before a Senate luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, December 12, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)