Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) acknowledged that Democrats were forced to make major compromises to pass the latest government funding bill, citing a pressing need to avoid a government shutdown. The House passed a pared-down version of the original 1,500-page bipartisan bill after objections from President-elect Trump and Elon Musk spurred significant revisions.
“This wasn’t perfect,” Swalwell admitted during an interview with CNN’s Sara Sidner. He stressed that his primary concern was ensuring that federal employees, particularly those serving veterans, keeping airports secure, and monitoring air traffic, continued to receive paychecks. “My prerogative was to make sure that the hard-working employee who serves our veterans or keeps our airports safe with the TSA or is monitoring air traffic as an air traffic controller, that they get paid for the work that they do.”
When asked whether Democrats calculated that they might bear the brunt of public blame for a shutdown if they didn’t support the revised bill, Swalwell downplayed political concerns. Instead, he framed the decision as a moral imperative. “It was more about the TSA security officer that, two weeks ago, pulled me aside…and said, ‘Hey, I saw you coming through, and my wife told me to ask you, are we going to be okay?’” Swalwell said. “Knowing that people are counting on us to get this right, and it’s not perfect, but that person not getting paid and thousands of others not getting paid, that’s also not right.”
The House voted 366-34 in favor of the stopgap funding bill, while the Senate passed it early Saturday morning, narrowly avoiding a prolonged shutdown. However, the bill’s journey highlighted significant fractures within Congress. Conservative lawmakers objected to the first amended version, forcing leadership to draft a shorter-term bill.
The concessions reflect the growing influence of Trump and Musk, who have both demanded that Republican lawmakers prioritize fiscal restraint. The duo’s opposition led to a reshaped legislative package that many Democrats, including Swalwell, reluctantly supported to avert further disruption.
Swalwell’s comments underscore the challenges of navigating partisan divisions and public scrutiny during a high-stakes funding crisis. While the new bill ensures the government remains operational, its passage underscores the delicate balancing act lawmakers face as they juggle competing demands from their constituents, party leadership, and influential voices like Trump and Musk.
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