Brinkmanship at the White House: Why a Clean CR Keeps the Middle Class Covered

Monday afternoon’s White House meeting isn’t just political theater. It’s a high-stakes moment for families across the middle class who rely on predictable government funding for essential services—everything from veteran benefits to basic safety at the border and in our airports. With the Tuesday night deadline looming, the question isn’t just about optics. It’s about whether the government stays open and funded at today’s levels, adjusted for inflation, so real people aren’t left in limbo.

What’s at stake for families and communities

• Military pay and benefits: service members and their families rely on timely compensation.
• Public safety personnel: TSA agents, Border Patrol, and other frontline workers need steady funding to do their jobs.
• Food assistance and support programs: women, children, and impoverished communities depend on ongoing funding.
• Veterans and seniors: essential programs and services should not be disrupted by political brinkmanship.
• General government operations: delays and uncertainty ripple through the economy and everyday life.

"Let me be very clear about the president and the White House's position: All we are asking for is a common-sense, clean funding resolution — a continuing resolution — to keep the government open. This is a bill that keeps the government funded at the exact same levels as today, just adjusted for inflation. So there is zero good reason for the Democrats to vote against this, especially when the Democrats have voted for this 13 previous times, as recently as March. And so, this is the reasonable and common-sense thing to do. The president is giving Democrat leadership one last chance to be reasonable, to come to the White House today to try to talk about this. And now is not the time to try to get political points against Donald Trump; now is the time to do right by the American people and keep the government funded."

"The leverage is in the president's hands because the overwhelming majority of the American public wants to keep the government open — I mean, it's not even close. Democrats and Republicans — Independents across the country — want the government funded, because they want our military and our troops to be paid. They want TSA agents and Border Patrol to be paid. They want food assistance programs for women and children and impoverished communities to continue going out the door. All of that will come to an end if Democrats vote against this clean CR that Republicans are proposing."

The White House email echoed the risk of a shutdown for veterans, seniors, and public safety, noting that Democrats’ reluctance to agree to a clean CR would jeopardize critical funding. It highlighted testimonials from groups urging Congress to act and keep government functioning for the people it serves.

• American Federation of Government Employees
• Americans for Prosperity
• AMVETS
• Independent Women's Voice
• National Association of Police Organizations
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association
• Parents Defending Education

Leavitt’s framing places Democrats in a tough spot: defend a posture that could threaten vital services or join Republicans in a straightforward, inflation-adjusted funding bill that keeps the government open. It’s a reminder that this isn’t just about politics—it's about whether the system works for the people who rely on it most.

Bottom line for the middle class

A clean continuing resolution, funded at current levels with a modest adjustment for inflation, is the most straightforward way to avoid chaos and heartache for everyday Americans. It preserves the predictability families count on—from paychecks for service members to the safety net that keeps kids fed and communities secure.