Kim warns of ‘mob boss tactics,’ health care cuts, and fading checks and balances

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) didn’t mince words Monday when asked about what he sees in Washington.

“We’re seeing mob boss tactics right now by the Trump administration,” Kim told hyperlocal media reporters during a virtual press briefing hosted by the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University.

His remarks came as the federal shutdown entered its third week. Vice President J.D. Vance has likened the stance of Senate Democrats to “hostage-taking.” Democrats say they won’t vote to reopen the government unless health insurance tax credits are extended.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BLAME GAME

Kim placed responsibility squarely on Republicans and the Trump administration. “It’s the Republicans and the White House that are shutting down the government,” he said. “They control the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives. They have the congressional majorities and the gavels. They are the ones that chose not to engage in negotiations.”

Kim criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for giving the House “a paid vacation” while federal employees and service members go without pay. He said Democrats have been ready to negotiate, but have encountered little willingness from the administration to compromise on anything.

New Jersey’s junior senator, who is the first Korean American elected to the Senate, said the administration’s actions have undermined the nation’s constitutional framework, and warned that the erosion of checks and balances threatens both democracy and the health and financial stability of New Jersey families.

“In this day and age, you can’t talk about the Senate as a whole in terms of how it’s engaged with the Trump administration, because I have real concerns about the lawlessness,” Kim said. “The Constitution is what I swear my oath to protect. That’s not to a political party or an individual president.”

Morristown Green has reached out to the White House for its response.

TARIFFS, TUNNELS, AND ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’ FUNDING CUTS

Kim accused the president of exceeding his authority by using emergency powers to impose tariffs and redirect money Congress already had allocated.

“The president cannot control the tariffs globally. That’s something for Congress to do, but he’s declaring emergency powers to be able to give him that authority,” Kim said.

He also blasted the administration’s decision to halt funding for the Gateway Tunnel project, a vital infrastructure link between New Jersey and New York. Calling the move “irresponsible and reckless,” Kim said he is working with colleagues and state officials to challenge the decision through investigations and possible legal action.

HEALTH CARE AND A PERSONAL CONNECTION

On health care — a key issue in the standoff now at Day 13 — Kim warned that federal cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act could devastate New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents.

“We cannot offset all of the cuts that the federal government has made when it comes to Medicaid,” he said, adding that the state’s next governor will play a pivotal role in safeguarding access to coverage.

Kim noted that his own father’s declining health has sharpened his understanding of elder care and retirement challenges. “So many Americans are struggling with this right now — how much of an elder care problem we have, how much of a retirement crisis we have,” he said.

“I’ll be honest, it’s overwhelming,” he said.

Kim said he’s working on legislation to bolster long-term care and increase federal support for dementia research.

Asked what’s on his bookstand, Kim said he is reading guides for navigating elder care, and also The Anxious Generation.

It examines potential harm posed to young children by smartphones and social media. Kim, a father of two, called it “a very powerful book” and said he’s exploring bipartisan support from fellow members of the Senate Health Care and Education Committee to restrict smartphone use in schools.

IMMIGRATION AND HUMAN DIGNITY

On immigration, Kim criticized the Trump administration’s approach to deportations and enforcement. He said Senate Democrats are standing up for the rights of people in the country and against what he described as lawlessness, including ICE agents “out in the street disappearing people” and efforts to overturn Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that could put individuals in harm’s way.

Kim said he is pursuing legislative, oversight, and judicial avenues to increase transparency and ensure that families have access to legal representation, while pressing for more humane and accountable policies. He cited deplorable conditions at ICE’s Delaney Hall detention center in Newark.

“So just all of that happening in the dark is dangerous,” Kim said, vowing to push for answers.

FINDING COMMON GROUND — AND SOUNDING THE ALARM

Kim said he’s eager to find bipartisan areas of cooperation — citing artificial intelligence research and shipbuilding — but warned that the administration’s trade policies and tariffs could make that difficult. “We need to work with our partners,” he said, pointing to strained relationships with Japan and Korea.

He appealed for civic engagement.

“The opposite of democracy is apathy,” Kim said. “It’s when we feel a sense of helplessness. And I understand where people are coming from — it’s easy to feel helpless in the face of such significant challenge. But I hope that people channel it into real change.”