Rep. Walkinshaw weighs in on federal shutdown

With a government shutdown looming, Virginia Congressman James Walkinshaw told The Final 5 that Republicans are refusing to engage in last-minute negotiations, unlike past shutdowns. He criticized GOP leadership for skipping talks with Democrats on a bipartisan funding plan that would prevent health care cuts and stabilize Affordable Care Act premiums. Walkinshaw dismissed Speaker Johnson?s claim that Democrats are holding funding hostage, calling it ?rich? given Republican-backed cuts to food assistance. He warned that while federal workers may face furloughs, mass layoffs during a shutdown would be illegal under the Antideficiency Act and likely challenged in court.