The Trump administration’s response to the ongoing government shutdown shows its disregard for free speech and disrespect for federal workers, legal experts told HuffPost.
On Wednesday, an email from leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration informed staff they were required to use an out-of-office message blaming Democrats for blocking the passage of a “clean continuing resolution” and shutting down the government.
Democrats do not support the “clean continuing resolution” because they want to cancel the nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts made law earlier this year and because they want to extend subsidies available through Affordable Care Act exchanges. The latter is their main bargaining chip to negotiate the reopening of the government with Republicans.
Republicans have twisted these demands into assertions — including via messaging on official government websites — that Democrats shuttered the government because they are hell-bent on giving free health care to immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. (Federal law already prohibits unauthorized immigrants from accessing health care through programs like the Affordable Care Act.)
