Transportation secretary shares 'FAFO' meme amid shutdown
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted a viral meme video on X telling Democrats "FAFO" ("f--- around and find out") as the federal government entered its third day of a shutdown. The clip splices classroom‑style commentary with quotes from Democratic politicians pressing to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits; the post comes amid a stalemate in the Senate, public warnings about the shutdown’s cost (CBO: about $400 million per day) and White House pressure tactics including withholding select funding.
Politics
Government
📌 Key Facts
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared the video on X and captioned it 'Dear Democrats, FAFO.'
- The article places the post as the shutdown entered its third day and cites a CBO estimate of roughly $400 million per day in federal pay costs for furloughed employees.
- Coverage ties the post to the ongoing negotiation over extending ACA premium tax credits and notes administration actions (OMB withholding some funds) and statements from Senate leaders John Thune and Chuck Schumer.
📚 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.
- OMB is the abbreviation for the Office of Management and Budget, an office within the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for assisting the President in preparing the federal budget and supervising its administration in executive agencies.