Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized negotiations to end the government shutdown, saying that Republicans “need to pick up a phone.”
“They need to pick up a phone, Katilan. They need to pick up a phone,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a CNN Town Hall on Wednesday, dismissing Speaker Mike Johnson’s argument that Democrats must accept a clean continuing resolution passed by House Republicans last month
The ongoing government shutdown has left millions of Americans anxious, uncertain, and increasingly frustrated. Among them is Bobby Harms, a Mississippi bartender and mother who says her American dream has “turned into a nightmare.” Her family was just days away from closing on their first home through a USDA loan when the shutdown abruptly froze everything. With their lease expiring, they’re now being forced to move and face an uncertain future.
“My American dream has turned into a nightmare,” Harms said, describing how the political stalemate in Washington derailed her family’s plans. “We were days away from closing, and now we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
It’s precisely these stories that fueled the fiery remarks from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who blasted Republicans during a live town hall discussion about the shutdown’s growing toll on working families. AOC didn’t hold back, accusing House Republicans of “refusing to do their jobs” and calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to “pick up the phone” and start negotiating.
“They need to pick up a phone,” Ocasio-Cortez said, visibly frustrated. “They’re saying they’re doing all this work, but what they’re really doing is twiddling their thumbs and talking to each other. It is actually an unconscionable abdication of duty. I’ve never seen people who hate working so much in my life.”
The New York congresswoman’s comments came as the shutdown entered yet another week with little progress. Millions of federal workers remain without pay, and countless Americans like Bobby Harms are caught in the crossfire — unable to access loans, benefits, or basic government services.
Ocasio-Cortez argued that the blame lies squarely with the Republican-controlled House, accusing them of walking away from negotiations and prioritizing politics over people. “If I were Mike Johnson, I’d be in that office negotiating with Hakeem Jeffries every damn day until we reopen this government,” she said. “And any day that you don’t do that is a failure — a failure of leadership and a failure to the American people.”
Republican leaders have claimed that the House has “done its job” by passing a continuing resolution and that the Senate must now act. But AOC dismissed that argument outright. “They’re on vacation,” she said. “How do you negotiate with people who refuse even to show up to work? We’re here in Washington, ready to strike a deal, ready to work. They’re not.”
Ocasio-Cortez, who entered Congress during the longest shutdown in U.S. history, compared the current situation to “hostage taking.” But this time, she flipped the accusation back on the GOP. “They say Democrats are taking hostages,” she said. “But how can that be true when they’re the ones refusing to clock in? We’re all here, we’re all ready to work. They’re not even in town.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders echoed AOC’s sentiment during the discussion, saying the stalemate is “hurting millions” and could have catastrophic consequences if it continues. “If Trump wins this fight, our healthcare system could collapse,” Sanders warned. “Tens of thousands of people could die every single year.”
Still, AOC insisted this is not just about politics — it’s about basic governance. “This isn’t about winning or losing some partisan battle,” she said. “It’s about whether our government can function at all, whether working families like Bobby’s can have faith in their elected officials again.”
As days turn into weeks, and weeks threaten to stretch into months, AOC’s message has become a rallying cry for frustrated Americans watching their livelihoods hang in the balance. Her call for accountability — and for Republicans to “pick up the phone” — underscores the growing impatience among Democrats and voters alike.
“For every day this shutdown continues, real people suffer,” she said. “Families lose homes, workers lose paychecks, kids lose stability. This is not a game. This is people’s lives.”
As the political standoff drags on, one thing is clear — Ocasio-Cortez has no plans to stay silent. “We’re here, we’re working, and we’re not backing down,” she said. “It’s time for the other side to do their job.”