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By Anna Commander
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Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ripped into his fellow New York representative, Republican Mike Lawler, for confronting him at the U.S. Capitol about signing a GOP-backed bill to end the government shutdown.
Why It Matters
The confrontation between the two on Capitol Hill illustrates the deepening partisan tensions at the heart of the ongoing government shutdown.
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The dispute centers on extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits and passing critical funding legislation to reopen the federal government. These debates directly impact millions of Americans' health care affordability and the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of federal employees, including military service members and civilian personnel.
What To Know
On Wednesday, Lawler confronted Jeffries in a hallway outside a news conference, demanding that he back a bipartisan ACA subsidy extension bill crafted by Republican Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia as a temporary measure to maintain premium tax credits for another year.
Jeffries rebuffed Lawler's demand, repeatedly telling the Republican congressman, "You're embarrassing yourself."
He then accused Lawler of speaking over him and said, "Just keep your mouth shut." Lawler responded, "Is that the way to talk?"
The two were discussing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed earlier this year.
Jeffries also accused Lawler of "chasing clout" for confronting him while demanding he sign the bill.
Lawler pressed Jeffries repeatedly about signing the bill and questioned why he has not backed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in the race for New York City mayor.
The confrontation comes as the government shutdown stretched into its eighth day, with Senate and House leaders at an impasse over the inclusion of a permanent ACA subsidy extension in stopgap funding measures. While House Republican leaders have urged Democrats to support their continuing resolution, passed last month, Senate Democrats maintain that protecting health care affordability is essential for reopening the government.
Jeffries, during the roughly five-minute confrontation, accused Lawler of not working for the American people. He then asked the New York Republican if he was trying to elevate himself because he's "afraid you're about to lose reelection."
"No, I'm not going to lose reelection," Lawler replied.
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What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social this week: "Democrats have SHUT DOWN the United States Government right in the midst of one of the most successful Economies, including a Record Stock Market, that our Country has ever had. This has sadly affected so many programs, services, and other elements of Society that Americans rely on — And it should not have happened. I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open. In fact, they should open our Government tonight!"
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on X on Wednesday: "Healthcare premiums are about to double or triple for millions of Americans. House Republicans don’t give a d***. You deserve better."
Lawler on X, replying to a video of the confrontation on Wednesday: "Shutting down the government is cowardice to radicals in the Democratic Party, like AOC and the Squad. @RepJeffries has once again chosen partisanship over governance. Instead of coming to the table to work out a bipartisan compromise that extends ACA credits, he’s playing political games with people’s livelihoods. It’s disgraceful, and it’s hurting families across the country."
What Happens Next
Negotiations in Congress are expected to continue, with Senate Democrats refusing to advance House-passed funding without commitments to maintain ACA subsidies. Prolonged deadlock raises the stakes for federal employees, military pay and millions dependent on health care credits.
Update 10/8/25, 5:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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