Just hours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, California Sen. Adam Schiff drew attention for politicizing the moment during a Senate funding debate. Schiff warned that Republicans’ spending proposals would lead to massive cuts in healthcare programs and accused the administration of pushing the nation “down a dangerous road to dictatorship.”

In his remarks, Schiff said GOP budget plans would slash Medicaid, Affordable Care Act tax credits, and funding for agencies like the VA, NIH, and CDC. He claimed these measures could strip millions of Americans of healthcare access and drive premiums on insurance exchanges up by as much as 75 percent.

Schiff escalated his rhetoric further, alleging unprecedented abuses of power by the Justice Department and accusing the administration of silencing media, targeting universities, and extorting companies. “This is the road to dictatorship,” he declared, insisting Democrats must tie any government funding bill to restoring healthcare access and ending what he described as corrupt use of federal money.

The heated exchange came as details emerged about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing Kirk during a Utah Valley University event. Authorities said Robinson had expressed hostility toward Kirk’s viewpoints in the days leading up to the shooting. The juxtaposition of Schiff’s warnings with the tragedy underscored how polarized the political climate has become.