Government Shutdown Becoming a ‘National Security’ Threat
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) warned that as the government shutdown continues for a record length of time, it becomes a “national security” threat to the United States.
During an interview on Breitbart News Saturday With Matthew Boyle, Breitbart News’ Washington bureau chief, Mullin explained that as the government shutdown, which has reached 37 days, continues, it is not only affecting the nation financially, but it is putting the United States “behind” on military projects, among other issues.
“This is becoming a huge financial burden that could put us in a difficult financial situation. We have had 4 percent GDP growth for several months under President Trump’s economy. Because of the government shutdown, we are at 1 percent growth. This is major. This is hurting us tremendously,” Mullin said.
“And those dollars, it’s not like those dollars are coming back into the economy once the government is open again. Those dollars are lost. You’re not going to see that spike, and you’re going to see an eight percent GDP next month. It’s actually going to take maybe two months for the economy to recover after being closed for that long. So now it becomes a national security issue. [risk] because of the financial risk.
“This becomes a national security issue [threat] because of the dangers we face in supporting the most important military projects that we work on, I would say the most sensitive programs. And because air traffic control could have mobility to move products from point A to point B.”
“So now the Democrats have put us in a national security issue, and they are responsible for it,” Mullin added, predicting that Democrats would concede “this weekend.”
Mullin continued to comment on how people such as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have been working without pay during the government shutdown, and noted that “almost no one” can go 30, or even 45 days without being paid.
“Most of them – if they’re not living paycheck to paycheck, they don’t have 30 days of reserve. Almost no one has 30 days of reserve. They especially don’t have 45 days of reserve. And, so now we’re asking them to continue to keep the American people and us safe, and we’re not paying them? I mean, they’re going to collect all their back pay… but come on, give me a break. It’s embarrassing.”
