The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) responded to President Trump’s speech calling for a border wall by saying that the real issue is the ongoing partial government shutdown.
JDCA executive director Halie Soifer said in a statement, “The facts simply do not support the president’s assertion of a national security crisis at our southern border. To the extent there is a crisis in our country, it is one of the president’s own making given the grave economic, security, and social impact of his unnecessary and dangerous government shutdown.”
Soifer added that it was of greater national security importance to “reopen the government immediately and ensure salaries are provided to the tens of thousands of TSA airport security officers, law enforcement and corrections officers, Customs and Border Patrol officers, and other vital U.S. government employees affected by the shutdown.”
“Essential government programs, including food assistance for American families and children, are in jeopardy and 800,000 Americans are either working without pay or not working at all,” Soifer said. “This government shutdown is a political crisis created by the president, and an abdication of his fundamental responsibility to govern.”
Soifer concluded the statement calling on Senate Republicans to completely re-open the government.
Trump’s full speech as well as the responses from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer can be read here.
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