Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Moments ago, Donald Trump announced he will sign Congressional Democrats’ proposal for a three-week continuing resolution, temporarily reopening the government. The backlog in pay to federal workers totals nearly $6 billion -- wages Trump doesn’t know when will be paid back. Trump also pushed a proposed Homeland Security legislation that would secure the funding for the wall. Again, Trump threatened to shut the government back down or declare a national emergency to construct his border wall should his demands continue to be rejected.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“For more than a month, Donald Trump toyed with the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of American families, causing untold damage to the economy, our environment and American families in his attempt to get more funding for his destructive border wall. Trump lost because the public and common sense are not on his side, but the damage done and threats made show he treats the American people, border communities, and asylum seekers as pawns in his political games. Trump’s obsession with a dangerous border wall isn’t solving his imaginary crisis on our border, but adding to the crisis he manufactured with this 35 day shutdown, putting hundreds of thousands of people out of work, upending vital government services, and damaging our national parks.
“The American people will not forget Trump’s shutdown or that Trump is continuing to put his border wall demands before the health, safety, and prosperity of the country. It is past time to permanently open the doors of government and reject any funding for more destructive, unpopular border wall.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.