On the ninth day of the ongoing government shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., organized a religious gathering to criticize Republican lawmakers, accusing them of ‘preying’ on the American public, particularly the vulnerable. The ‘Interfaith Rally and Faith Vigil for Health Justice’ featured prominent faith leaders from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities, alongside other Democratic lawmakers, as they called on Republicans to find a bipartisan approach to fund the federal government and address healthcare policy concessions. The event took place outside a church in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, highlighting a growing divide in Congress over the issue of government funding.
Jeffries’ criticism of the Republican Party was sharp, drawing a clear distinction between the party’s public image of moral authority and its actions in Congress. Speaking at the rally, he stated, ‘I grew up in church learning, of course, that what the Bible teaches us is to stand up for the least amongst us — the lost, the left behind, those whose stations in life may not have always dealt them the best of hands.’ He went on to accuse Republicans of ‘preying on the poor, prey on the sick, prey on the afflicted,’ a metaphor that starkly contrasted their supposed religious values with their political actions on the legislative floor.
The event stood in stark contrast to the previous month’s GOP-led vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who was assassinated in October at a rally in Arizona. While several rank-and-file Democrats attended the GOP vigil, Jeffries was notably absent, explaining with a four-word answer, ‘I had a meeting,’ a response that drew public scrutiny and speculation about his priorities. This contrast between the parties further intensified the current debate, with Jeffries’ remarks aligning with Democratic efforts to leverage the shutdown as a platform to push for broader policy changes, including the restoration of healthcare subsidies and protections under the Affordable Care Act.
Jeffries also referenced a verse from the New Testament, ‘We are troubled on every side, but not distressed, perplexed, but never in despair,’ to further emphasize the Democrats’ determination in the face of ongoing challenges. He stated, ‘I think it’s fair to say that we’ve got trouble all around us. A hater in the White House, haters in the Congress, haters throughout the Cabinet, trouble all around us. But we’re not distressed because we believe in the resilience and the goodness of the American people.’ The event marked a clear political and ideological stance, with Democrats using the faith-based platform to frame the broader healthcare and economic policy debate as a moral imperative.
Other speakers at the rally included House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., both of whom have been vocal critics of the Republican-led government shutdown strategy. The shutdown, which has continued since October 1, began when Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a funding agreement for the fiscal year 2026. The House passed a ‘continuing resolution’ last month to keep the government funded at FY2025 levels through November 21, but Democrats were frustrated by the lack of progress on long-term policy issues, including healthcare and Medicaid.
Senators on both sides of the aisle have been engaged in a series of votes to block the GOP’s proposed spending plan, with Senate Democrats holding a strong position against the measure. The broader implications of the shutdown underscore ongoing tensions between the parties, not only in terms of legislative strategy but also in how they frame the public’s role and expectations in the government. The faith-based rally served as a symbolic effort to align the shutdown debate with moral and spiritual arguments, while also reinforcing Democratic leadership’s position in the ongoing policy dispute.