U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) vowed to “not be complicit in the lawlessness we see” in the midst of a federal government shutdown during a telephone Town Hall last night.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“The shutdown is going to happen at midnight. The House of Representatives isn’t even open,” Kim said Tuesday evening.
“[House] Speaker [Mike] Johnson sent everybody home! That’s a dereliction of duty. People want their elected officials to lock themselves in a room … and find some type of agreement,” Kim declared.
Kim said the predicament will impact millions of civil servants and armed forces members who will now be without a paycheck.
“We’ve been asking for months now to have sit-down negotiations … [President] Donald Trump has canceled every single one of those … until yesterday … That is something I find to be irresponsible and reckless: I know that the pain is real,” he added.
He also accused Trump of breaking the law by attempting to cut funding that has already been approved by the House and Senate, also noting that most Americans are struggling with significant economic costs, especially some created by his tariffs.
The Garden State’s junior senator also interjected that “it feels like death from a thousand cuts.”
He said billionaires and corporations received tax cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill.
At the same time, millions of Americans will receive huge increases in their healthcare since the American Care Act (ACA) subsidies have been cut, while others are set to lose all their health coverage.
Kim said those with private insurance companies are going to see significant increases as well due to the cuts in subsidies.
“The level of lawless we’re seeing is less than right,” he explained.
Kim said National Guard deployments and attacks on free speech across the county have been distressing.
“ … We have to say this is not who we are … I will not be complicit in this lawlessness we see.”
Kim said Trump officials are seeking to fire hundreds of thousands of civil servants during the shutdown. He added that the President and Members of Congress get paid despite a shutdown.
“I am stopping myself from receiving a paycheck because we should not be treated differently than anybody else,” he explained.
Kim noted they are holding resource fairs soon to help people before taking questions.
“What actions are being taken now to make sure this isn’t a problem going forward?” Robert, a Newton resident who didn’t give his last name, asked.
“We’re trying to get clarity … We want to make sure we keep communities safe,” Kim said, continuing that air traffic controllers will show up to work but won’t get paid.
He also said he would help ensure federal workers get retroactive pay when the shutdown is over.
“I’m going to be doing daily video updates about how this shutdown is affecting services,” Kim added.
“I’d like to know about the legality of using active-duty American forces in cities?” Dan, a resident of Pleasantville, asked.
“Unfortunately, this is a legal ability for the president to do it in the nation’s capital,” Kim replied.
However, he questioned his definition of an “emergency” to justify doing so across the country.
“He said our cities domestically should be a training ground for our military! … This is absolutely wrong!” Kim exclaimed.
“Our military is meant to be a source of security for the United States and the American people. Unfortunately … it’s being used to incite and provoke violence.”
Additionally, Nick, a Toms River resident, asked for Kim to respond to a Republican narrative that Democrats “were trying to insert special interest legislation” to stave off a shutdown
“He’s being so intentionally deceptive … He wants to abolish FEMA, and Speaker Johnson has the audacity to say Democrats are standing in the way,” Kim said of Trump.
He also noted that the Big Beautiful Bill jammed through cut Medicaid and is causing people to lose access to WIC programs.
“Some Republicans would want to support investments in healthcare …The Democrats don’t use social media to their advantage. Trump and MAGA dominate. I’d like to know what you’re going to do about this,” Jacqueline, of Bedminster, asked.
Kim admitted they are successful in dominating social media, with Twitter/X owner Elon Musk and Republican donors potentially buying TikTok have made it worse.
“The algorithms are trained toward the outrage and … tech companies are cashing in on it: Help me try to get that message out there,” he replied.
“Urge [ Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer to not capitulate, it emboldens Trump,” Laura, who lives in Brick, stated..
“He has completely commandeered Congress,” Kim answered, stating that congressional opposition options have been greatly diminished.
“Trump looked like he didn’t even know about the ACA … cuts,” Kim said, also urigng people to share their experiences of their health care costs going up.
“This is not the America we want our kids to grow up in: I really want to hear from you.”
