Part 2/7:
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst voiced her displeasure with the current state of affairs, emphasizing that the shutdown is largely a product of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's actions. Ernst explained, "We are on day three of the Schumer shutdown, and it's really unfortunate." She highlighted the economic costs associated with the closure, noting that approximately 750,000 federal workers are not at their jobs but are still receiving pay, costing taxpayers around $400 million daily. Over just three days, this has amounted to roughly $1 billion in government spending that is seen as wasteful, given the lack of productivity during this period.