Bernie Sanders Slams Government Shutdown Deal as a Disaster

Senator Bernie Sanders was not happy. He thought the deal to end the government shutdown was a "disaster. " He believed Democrats did not get much in return. The deal would keep the government running until late January. It would also stop federal layoffs and fund some parts of the government until September 2026. In exchange, Republicans promised a vote on extending health insurance subsidies. These subsidies help people buy insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Without them, many people could pay much higher premiums. Sanders was not impressed. He said the vote was "meaningless. " He thought it would not pass in the House or get signed by the president.Some Democrats supported the deal. They said Republicans would not negotiate further. They also pointed out the shutdown caused a lot of problems. These included delays in food assistance, frozen paychecks for federal workers, and chaos at airports. Sanders blamed President Trump and his allies for the shutdown. He said they caused the crisis by refusing to negotiate. He was also upset with Democrats who voted for the deal. He thought they made a big decision without enough discussion. Sanders also criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. He called Schumer an "establishment Democrat. " Sanders hopes new leaders will emerge in the Senate. But for now, he said, "it is what it is. "