(DCNF)—House Democrats are warning about the far-reaching consequences of a government shutdown despite recently opposing Republicans’ efforts to fund the government.
Democratic lawmakers returned to Washington on Monday, vowing to keep the government open despite voting against a GOP spending bill currently under consideration in the Senate that would temporarily fund government operations. Many Democrats have expressed fears about the negative consequences their constituents could face during a shutdown, but do not appear to regret their vote against funding government operations.
“Make no mistake: A shutdown would disrupt vital services, halt disaster relief, and put countless federal employees out of work,” Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar wrote in a lengthy post to the social media platform X on Monday. “At the end of the day, a government shutdown doesn’t impact politicians – it harms everyday Americans.”
Cuellar and 210 of his fellow Democrats voted against a seven-week funding plan — known as a clean continuing resolution (CR) — offered by House Republican leadership on Sept. 19. Maine Rep. Jared Golden was the lone Democratic lawmaker to buck his party and vote to avert a government shutdown.
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, demanded that Republicans include roughly $1.5 trillion in additional spending on Obamacare subsidies and federal Medicaid dollars in a temporary spending bill in exchange for their support, which Republicans dismissed as a nonstarter.
Cuellar warned Monday that border patrol agents and veterans will suffer during a government shutdown, but the clean CR he voted against would have provided funding to pay border patrol agents and averted a funding lapse for some veterans’ healthcare services.
He also posted a photo of himself on an airplane while traveling to Washington on Monday, pledging to keep the government open despite voting against funding federal agencies a week prior.
The moderate Texas Democrat previously observed that “the most basic job of Congress is to fund the federal government” during a shutdown fight in 2019.
Cuellar is notably one of the targets of GOP-led mid-decade redistricting in Texas. If the Lone Star State’s new map is upheld in court, the lawmaker will face reelection in a district that voted for President Donald Trump by double digits.
The Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Cuellar in May 2024 for bribery, unlawful foreign influence and money laundering. The congressman is alleged to have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from an energy company controlled by the Azerbaijani government and a Mexico-based bank.
The government is slated to shutdown on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. absent Senate Democrats agreeing to approve the House-passed CR. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has thus far expressed openness to shutting down the government if Republicans do not agree to various policy concessions.
Democratic Virginia Rep. Eugene Vindman joined Cuellar in accusing House Republicans’ of causing a looming government shutdown despite supplying the votes to pass a stopgap funding plan.
“[Mike Johnson] and House Republicans would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to pass a budget that protects healthcare, funds schools, and lowers costs for working families,” Vindman wrote on X. “Virginians deserve better than their reckless political games.”
Vindman voted against the bipartisan spending bill to extend current funding levels and provide for tens of millions in security funding for lawmakers, arguing the legislation failed in part to “lower costs.”
The freshman lawmaker, who described himself as “the voice for thousands of federal workers” in his northern Virginia district in January, voted against the bipartisan spending bill to fund the government.
A prolonged government shutdown will force thousands of federal employees to work for an indefinite period of time without pay. The Trump administration has also teased mass layoffs of federal workers during the looming shutdown, which could disproportionately impact Vindman’s swing district.
Vindman is the twin brother of Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, a key figure during Trump’s first impeachment. Rep. Vindman reportedly helped his better-known brother make his case to impeach the president in 2019.
Spokespersons for Cueller and Vindman did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.