Rep. Jeb Hensarling on Friday blasted his fellow Republicans in a statement critiquing them for passing a bill to fund the government that contained no spending reforms.
"Congressional Democrats have held our military hostage through the appropriations process. Regrettably, Congressional Republicans have agreed to pay the ransom to release them today," Hensarling said in a statement.
"Although I understand our leadership felt they had no other choice, I believe it is a monumental mistake and a sad day," the Texas Republican said.
Reigning in government debt is a necessity, Hensarling said in his statement.
"There is a true spending-driven debt crisis in America. It is the greatest existential threat to our country that receives little to no attention in Washington," Hensarling said.
"When the (national) debt was $17 trillion, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen said, ‘The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.’ Now that number is $20 trillion with no sign of stopping," Hensarling said in his statement.
"If we do not alter our nation’s debt trajectory, we will soon wake up to find ourselves a second-rate economic power, a second-rate military power, and a second-rate moral authority," Hensarling’s statement said.
Hensarling, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is retiring from office.
"With the passage of this spending package, I fear Republicans have just ceded our moral authority to lead our nation away from eventual national insolvency. I cannot in good conscience support it," he said in his statement.
Many other Republicans also slammed the budget bill, which would put the government on track for annual deficits above $1 trillion.
"I think the spending in this is reckless and irresponsible," said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.
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