Hakeem Jeffries Digs In His Heels Further As Major Airlines, Unions Call For End To Schumer-Caused Shutdown

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday rejected calls from major U.S. airlines to support a clean, continuing resolution and end the 30-day shutdown.

Delta Air Lines called on Congress to “immediately pass a continuing and clear resolution to reopen the government” and ensure that air traffic controllers and TSA agents, among other federal employees, receive their paychecks. Although Delta and other airline industry leaders have not mentioned either party by name, Republicans have consistently urged Democrats to support their clear and continued resolve to open government. (RELATED: Democrats Can’t Name a Single Thing They Don’t Like About GOP Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown)

Jeffries, however, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that he would not support the bipartisan Clean and Continuing Resolution (CR) under consideration in the Senate, arguing that the measure is a “partisan Republican spending bill.”

🚨WATCH: Hakeem Jeffries RANTS about Republicans when asked by @AndiNapier if Democrats were to pass a clean CR to pay air traffic controllers.

“These people are straight-up extremist liars from on high.” pic.twitter.com/jCL3s4geMW

– Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 30, 2025

“Are you suggesting that the partisan Republican spending bill that has now been rejected by the Senate 13 times and is destroying health care for the American people is a so-called clean, continuing resolution? » Jeffries told DCNF.

Asked how the measure largely continues Biden-era spending levels, Jeffries accused Republican leaders of being “extremist, cold-blooded liars.”

Mainstream media outlets, however, disputed Jeffries’ assertion that the House-passed spending bill is not a “clean” continuing resolution.

The New York Times in particular issued a fact check on Democrats’ claim that the Republicans’ proposal is not “clean,” saying Jeffries “overused budget jargon.”

“I appreciate that people in American business are urging Congress to pass a bipartisan agreement on spending,” Jeffries continued, referring to several airlines calling for adoption of a clean CR. “For the past 30 days, we’ve said the same thing. Over and over again, we will sit down with Republicans anytime, anywhere, anywhere to reopen government and enact a spending deal that truly meets the needs of the American people.”

Jeffries and nearly all House Democrats voted against the Republican-favored clean spending bill in mid-September. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the majority of the Democratic caucus also rejected the measure 13 times. Only three members of Schumer’s caucus crossed partisan lines to support Clean CR.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: The control tower stands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as a plane takes off October 27, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. A nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers has led to numerous flight delays since the October 1 government shutdown. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Airline executives have started sounding the alarm over the shutdown impacts on air travel as government funding reaches its 30th day and no resolution in sight.

Scott Kirby, chief executive of United Airlines, joined Vice Chairman JD Vance and other airline executives at a news conference Thursday in which he called on Congress to pass a clean CR because the shutdown “puts pressure on the economy.”

“It’s time to pass a clear CR. Take this opportunity to get into a closed room and negotiate hard on real, substantive issues that the American people want our politicians on both sides of the aisle to resolve,” Kirby said. said THURSDAY. “Let’s get a clear CR and conduct these negotiations behind closed doors without endangering American workers and the American economy.”

Delta Air Lines has also called for open government, issuing a statement Thursday imploring Congress to pay workers for doing their jobs.

“Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean, continuing resolution to reopen government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers responsible for the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve,” the airline said. statement said. “A stressed system must be slowed down, reducing its efficiency and causing delays for the millions of people who take flight every day. » (RELATED: Major Industry CEO and Union Boss Demand Democrats Throw in the Towel and End Government Shutdown)

Several public sector unions also joined in calling on Democrats to pass the Clean CR and reopen the government. THE The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents more than 1.3 million workers, urged the Senate to accept the House-passed CR before the shutdown begins on October 1.

“American workers are not bargaining chips,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. job on social networks. “Senators should stop messing around and pass the clean, short-term funding bill passed by the House.”

O’Brien, also speaking alongside Vance and Kirby outside the White House on Thursday, told reporters: “We have to think about the families that are going to be affected.”

“Think about when you have to tell your son or daughter that they can’t play sports because you’re not getting paid. Think about when you can’t pay your mortgage. Think about when you can’t pay your college tuition,” O’Brien said. “Put politics aside, come to the table, negotiate a deal, pass a clear CR now, then figure out the issues ahead.”

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the nation’s largest federal workers union that oversees more than 800,000 members and a longtime ally of the Democratic Party, pushed Democrats to vote Tuesday for a clear, continuing resolution.

“A strong America needs a government that works – a government that pays its bills, honors its commitments, and treats its workers with respect by paying them on time,” said Everett Kelly, AFGE national president. said in a statement. “The path forward for Congress is clear: reopen government immediately under a clear continuing resolution that allows for continued debate on broader issues. »

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news service, is available free to any legitimate news publisher capable of delivering a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and DCNF affiliation. For questions about our guidelines or our partnership, please contact licenses@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.