U.S. Senator Patty Murray said President Trump was responding to the taunts of a “handful of conservatives” when he allowed the partial shutdown of the federal government late this week.

Murray (D-WA) released the following statement Saturday:

“This shutdown is truly absurd, and would not have happened if President Trump had simply ignored the 11th hour taunts of a handful of conservatives and instead moved forward with the Senate’s bipartisan bill.

“On behalf of families in Washington state and across the country who are now left wondering when they’ll get their next paycheck or when their government will be fully functioning, I’m urging Republicans to work with us to do the right thing and re-open the government as quickly as possible,” Murray said.