Sen. Cory Booker and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries launched a live-streamed appeal from the steps of the U.S. Capital on April 27, demonstrating against Republican-backed budget plans.
Starting just after 6 a.m., the lawmakers addressed viewers about the Trump administration's proposed budget that they said would slash programs in housing, health care and education that help millions of Americans, while expanding tax breaks for the wealthiest.
"Republican leaders have made clear their intention to use the coming weeks to advance a reckless budget scheme to President Trump's desk that seeks to gut Medicaid, food assistance and basic needs programs that help people, all to give tax breaks to billionaires," Booker said in a statement. "Given what's at stake, these could be some of the most consequential weeks for seniors, kids and families in generations."
Congress will take up the fiscal 2026 budget proposal when they return to session Monday after a two-week recess. The administration's plan would cut billions of dollars from programs that support childcare, health research, education and housing, the New York Times, which obtained preliminary budget documents, reported.
Programs including Head Start, which provides child care and preschool education to low-income families, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps struggling households pay for heating and cooling, are on the chopping block. The proposal also includes massive cuts to federal health agencies.
Calling budgets a reflection of "what we value, who we protect, and what we stand for," Booker and Jeffries urged Americans to speak out.
Trump has called for shrinking federal government that he says "spends too much money on programs, contracts, and grants that do not promote the interests of the American people." Even if Congress approves the budget cuts, fiscal experts say the federal deficit could grow significantly due to Trump's proposed tax cuts. The tax cuts would add at least $5 trillion to the deficit in 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Trump made tax cuts a centerpiece of his campaign, with proposals to eliminate taxes on tips and Social Security benefits, but it will cost trillions of dollars to extend tax cuts from his first administration even before adding his new proposals.
Trump allies such as Steve Bannon have supported raising taxes on the rich, but the president hadn't taken a position. Trump has suggested tariffs could potentially replace the income tax, even though economists warn that tariffs raise far less revenue and fall harder on lower-income households.
The Democratic sit-in, held on what the lawmakers called a day of "faith, spirituality, and moral reflection," has been streaming on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube.
Booker made history earlier this month with a marathon speech on the Senate floor, railing against the Trump administration's actions, policies and plans for more than 25 hours.
Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY