Republicans are Working to Help Constituents Impacted by the Democrat Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C.- While Democrats continue their theatrics, forcing government employees to work without pay for a full month and risking programs like SNAP and WIC, Republicans have been working hard to help the people impacted by this prolonged, unnecessary shutdown. Appropriators are having face-to-face conversations with constituents while Democrats are filming TikToks in the halls of the Capitol Building, hosting photoshoots on the plaza, and avoiding tough questions from their constituents who are hurt by their shutdown tactics.

Shutdowns don't work. In fact, they only cause pain.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have missed multiple paychecks. The U.S. economy has lost at least $18 billion. Air travelers are facing delays and ground stops because of staffing shortages in air traffic control towers. Even though President Trump was able to move funds around to pay military salaries and keep WIC and SNAP programs funded, those additional funds are running out.

All of this pain, for what? Democrats are obstructing a clean CR that they allowed to advance in March because of issues entirely unrelated to the appropriations process.

The longer the shutdown continues, the worse it gets for the American people - and the Democrats responsible for the shutdown aren't even home to help them with it.

Keep reading to see how Republican Appropriators have been at work in their districts during the Democrat shutdown.

National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said, "Nearly a month into this Schumer-led shutdown, I've been busy meeting with Florida growers about delayed H-2A certifications threatening unharvested crops and America's food supply, meetings with dozens of local officials and law enforcement, and hosting multiple tele-town halls to hear firsthand how essential services and vital nutrition programs are being disrupted and causing uncertainty in people's daily lives. House appropriators are working - the only people not doing their jobs are Senate Democrats, who would rather film TikToks than reopen the government."

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said,"Having been through several government shutdowns, I know how harmful they can be to the American people. A shutdown doesn't help the hardworking people of Oklahoma, which is why I led legislation to keep the federal government open and serving the nation. The consequences are severe and real. The missions at Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill Army Installation, the FAA training center, Kerr Water Labs, and the National Weather Center don't pause because Washington fails to govern - but the people who support those operations are harmed. TSA agents and air traffic controllers are also suffering, leading to disruptions for travelers across the country. Every day of a shutdown harms readiness, paychecks, research, and vital services that Americans count on. My colleagues have been doing the same work at home - meeting with servicemembers, federal workers, families, and businesses who are all feeling the strain. The frustration is real across all of our districts, and the message is clear: this shutdown must end. It's long past time for Senate Democrats to do the right thing, something the vast majority of Americans support, and vote to reopen the government."

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) said,"While Washington Democrats continue to vote against ending the shutdown, more American people are about to feel the painful consequences. SNAP benefits are set to expire for nearly 600,000 Kentuckians in November, with Thanksgiving just around the corner. Business leaders have shared their concerns with me about childcare for employees, as some Head Start programs await funding in November. We don't have time to waste to protect these programs, yet Washington Democrats are counting each day of the shutdown as 'leverage' for their political games. Let's reopen the government and do the real work of getting funds where they need to go."

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) said,"We should be in Washington working on full funding for the 2026 fiscal year, but Democrats have chosen to shut down the government. In the meantime, I've been making the best of it by visiting several areas of my district - including celebrating the success of the ReConnect broadband program, which I helped create in 2018 when I served as Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. During these visits, I've heard from countless constituents who want the government reopened and don't understand why it needed to be shut down in the first place. I've also worked to make sure my constituents continue to be served - from ensuring Capitol tours remain available to helping families and businesses navigate the impacts of this Democrat-led shutdown. From the district to Washington, I'm committed to making sure the people I represent are heard and helped. One of the latest issues that I'm working on is how the shutdown is affecting medical device manufacturers. Companies that manufacture medical devices - everything from syringes and scalpels to MRI machines and ventilators - currently cannot register to continue operation in 2026. And new medical devices cannot be submitted for approval. Schumer Shutdown = Suffering. If Democrats want to have a discussion about healthcare subsidies, then let's do it - but let's do it with an open and fully functioning government."

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID) said,"I find it humorous listening to the Democrats' so-called press conferences or watching their out-of-touch social media videos saying that Republicans are on 'vacation.' I would never compare assisting groups like small businesses, the military, or our veterans to taking a vacation. The Democrats' shutdown political games have very real consequences for Americans nationwide. Our constituents understand the truth and recognize who is truly working for them. Republicans will continue to fulfill our responsibilities while we wait for the Democrats to end the Schumer Shutdown."

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman John Carter (R-TX) said, "Texas' 31st district is home to the largest heavy armor military installation in the free world and thousands of veterans. My constituents are feeling the impacts of the Senate Democrats' shutdown, the longer Schumer lets it drag on. Countless federal workers are going without pay, veterans are not receiving certain services, and military families are struggling with uncertainty. My office remains open to assist constituents, and I've been traveling the district, hearing from small businesses, families, and veterans about the detrimental impact of the Democrats' decision to shut down the government. Democrats using the American people as leverage is despicable."

Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) said, "While Democrats headed to Napa right after the shutdown, House Republicans, including myself, have been home working in our districts and trying to blunt the impacts of the Schumer Shutdown. Unfortunately, without reopening the government, Riverside County residents I represent will continue to experience negative impacts from the ongoing shutdown. Here in Riverside County, approximately 3,450,000 residents will not be receiving their CalFresh federal food assistance benefits for November and beyond until funding is approved. The decision by Democrats in Congress to put politics before people is deeply disappointing. According to a recent survey I sent to my constituents, 67% believe fear of political consequences is preventing lawmakers from voting to reopen the government. It's past time to do the right thing and fund the essential federal services Americans rely upon."

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR) said, "The Third District is feeling the devastating consequences of this government shutdown. Air traffic controllers at XNA are working without pay. Service members at Ebbing Air National Guard Base remain in paycheck limbo. SNAP recipients are under immense stress about whether they will receive their benefits next month. Medicare beneficiaries are losing access to telehealth appointments. Food safety inspectors are going unpaid. Disaster aid payments for farmers are frozen. And small businesses face growing uncertainty. The list goes on - and the longer this shutdown drags on, the more dire the situation becomes. While Senate Democrats continue to vote no to reopening the government and House Democrats avoid their own districts, I'll continue hearing directly from my constituents as we confront the mounting toll of these political games."

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) said, "While Democrats have been blocking the reopening of our government and filming TikTok videos lying to the American people about how they are not to blame, I have been meeting with constituents who are hurting because of Democrats' government shutdown. I've met with small business owners, federal workers, and Tennesseans who rely on federal aid. These Americans are being thrown into turmoil as Democrat politicians use them as political pawns to continue their government shutdown, and it is wrong, plain and simple. As Democrats continue to sit around in DC doing nothing, I will continue meeting with my constituents who are paying the price for Democrats' indefensible government shutdown and continue my work to engage in good-faith, bipartisan efforts to reopen our government and pass an America First full-year FY26 budget deal."

Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Chairman David Joyce (R-OH) said, "The Democrat-imposed government shutdown has and continues to impact our nation's military, educational systems, families, businesses, and the broader economy. In the 14th District alone, staff at Youngstown Air Reserve Station have been furloughed, jeopardizing our national security. Coast Guard members at Fairport Harbor continue to work with uncertainty about their next paycheck. Small businesses can't get access to loans, while children and families will lose access to critical support programs like Head Start and SNAP. The only way to eliminate this needless suffering is for the Democrats in the Senate to do the right thing and open the government."

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) said, "As we approach the longest government shutdown in American history, I recently met with the hardworking employees at the Systems Integration Lab in Aberdeen - a Maryland business developing equipment that keeps our soldiers safe and whose dedicated workers rely on the federal government for their paychecks. These Marylanders have done their jobs and deserve to be paid for it. It's time for Maryland's Senators - and every Democrat - to do theirs and vote to reopen the government."

Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman David Valadao (R-CA) said, "The government has been shut down for more than a month, and while Congressional Democrats are busy filming videos and refusing to reopen the government, I've been in the Central Valley talking to constituents about how the shutdown is affecting them. At a local food pantry, I met families and volunteers worried about what happens when SNAP funding runs out for the 200,000 people in our community who rely on it to help put food on the table. I've also heard from farmers and producers who can't access critical farm assistance programs that help keep their operations running. I'm ready to work across the aisle to address rising healthcare costs, but my constituents are tired of being used as leverage in political games. It's time for Congressional Democrats to reopen the government and let us get back to work for the American people."

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) said, "We are now in the sixth week of the Senate Democrats' government shutdown, and Chuck Schumer remains unwilling to come to the negotiating table. Their political ploy is negatively impacting farmers, veterans, and federal employees across Central Washington and the country. Congress has the responsibility under our Constitution to fund the federal government, and Senate Democrats have abdicated that responsibility at the expense of the taxpayers they represent."

Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) said, "This October, as I travel around Florida's Fifth district, I talk with constituents and see firsthand the unnecessary burden this government shutdown is having on Floridians. Each day this shutdown drags on, the possibility of missing a paycheck is an upsetting reality for many families that call Northeast Florida home. This devastation is hitting furloughed federal workers and those continuing to work without pay, including our servicemembers and the men and women who support our military, like base law enforcement officers, IT specialists, facilities engineers, firefighters, and logistical specialists. Right now, these are the members of our community struggling to support their own families because Senate Democrats refuse to reopen the government. It is unconscionable. I, along with my House Republican colleagues, remain committed to working hard for the American people as we call on Senate Democrats to end this shutdown madness."

Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) said, "While Senate Democrats posture in Washington and repeatedly vote to keep the government closed, House Republicans are hard at work in our districts. In recent weeks, I've hosted an education roundtable, held an agriculture conference, met with local officials, and heard from countless Virginians who just want Congress to do its job and keep the government open. House Republicans did exactly that. We passed a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open and continue advancing responsible funding bills that ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. The only ones not doing their jobs right now are Senate Democrats, who refuse to reopen the government."

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) said, "When agency doors close and phone lines go unanswered, it's not swamp bureaucrats who feel it; it's everyday hardworking Americans who feel it, trying to fix a tax problem, recover retirement savings, get a check signed by FSA to sell their grain, or have their claim processed by the VA. Iowans are losing access to services - like SNAP and WIC - they need and depend on because of Chuck Schumer's political games. My team is still doing everything we can to help Iowans, but it's past time for Schumer and the Democrats to stop holding the government hostage over so-called "leverage" and a partisan wish list."

Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) said, "As the Democratic shutdown continues, I have been in Mississippi working for the people. Since the shutdown began, my staff has been able to close over 75 cases, helping constituents navigate government red tape, and I have been meeting with constituents across the Third Congressional District. I've been using this time to talk about the successes of the Republican Congress so far this year."

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) said, "The Democrats may be on vacation, but I am hard at work for Montana, meeting with local officials, tribal leaders, veterans, and families who are feeling the real effects of Senate Democrats' refusal to pass a funding bill. I've rolled up my sleeves to help clean bathrooms at national parks, donated to food pantries, and visited with Tribal Nations and federal workers to hear their perspectives. Montanans are hardworking, patriotic people who just want to do their jobs and serve their communities. Their message is clear: this shutdown is dangerous and it's hurting real people. Democrats need to get their stuff together and vote to reopen the government."

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Vice Chair Stephanie Bice (R-OK) said, "Over the last month, I have been in Oklahoma's Fifth Congressional District meeting with constituents who are affected by the Democrat shutdown. I have hosted a telephone townhall, met with military leadership, credit unions, catholic charities, visited businesses, and countless other organizations. I will continue working throughout this Schumer Shutdown, but sincerely hope that Senate Democrats will stop holding hard-working Oklahomans hostage."

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Vice Chair Scott Franklin (R-FL) said, "During this shutdown, I've met and heard from hundreds of constituents across the district, including veterans' councils, agriculture groups, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, medical facilities, and universities. The message I've received from them is crystal clear: Floridians know this is a Democrat-manufactured crisis. They don't want me to cave to the Left's demands just to reopen the government on their terms. They want Congress to stop the reckless spending, restore fiscal discipline, and put hardworking taxpayers first. I'll keep standing with the people of Florida's 18th District until Democrats end this shutdown and come back to the table."

National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee Vice Chair Chuck Edwards (R-NC) said, "Democrats holding our government hostage is not a vacation for Members of Congress. Back home in NC-11, I've met with dozens of constituents in "Chats with Chuck" at my district office and traveling through the district on the Carolina Cruiser, hosted a "Chamber Chat" for business leaders across our sixteen counties, and convened a tourism roundtable to discuss the impact of the shutdown on the industry. Democrats may claim every day gets better for them, but that is not the case for families here in Western North Carolina. While Democrats continue to film TikToks from their offices in Washington, I'll be on the ground with constituents, listening to their concerns and doing everything in my power to help them."

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Vice Chair Mark Alford (R-MO) said, "While Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats waste time pointing fingers, House Republicans are out in our districts, actually working. We've done more than 40 local events, meeting with more than 100 constituents, including rural hospitals, small businesses, farmers, veterans, and local leaders across Missouri's fourth district who are tired of the games - they just want the government to open and function. We did our job in the House and passed a responsible bill to keep things running. Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer keeps adding gas to the fire, blocking every effort to reopen the government, and then blaming everyone else for the flames. The American people deserve better than this political theater."

Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Vice Chair Nick LaLota (R-NY) said, "Since the Schumer Shutdown began on October 1, I've met with Long Island's air traffic controllers, food pantry leaders, and scientists at Brookhaven National Lab to hear firsthand about the financial strain, uncertainty, and stress this shutdown has caused. I also hosted a telephone town hall with 12,000 Long Islanders and joined the Huntington Chamber of Commerce for a bipartisan discussion on how the Schumer Shutdown is impacting families, small businesses, and Long Island's 31,000 federal employees. The message from Long Islanders is clear: this shutdown is hurting hardworking people every single day. House Republicans already passed a clean CR with no cuts, no riders, and no gimmicks - it's long past time for Senate Democrats to end this needless, heartless shutdown."

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Vice Chair Dale Strong (R-AL) said, "This completely avoidable Democrat shutdown is causing unimaginable harm across the country, and especially here in North Alabama, where we have a large military presence and federal workforce. I've hosted telephone town halls, mobile office hours, and visited with small businesses across several different industries in North Alabama, all of which are bearing the burden of the Schumer Shutdown. It's time to get the government working for the people again."

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Vice Chair Celeste Maloy (R-UT) said, "I'm in my district doing what I was elected to do - serving Utahns. From tele-town halls to meetings with veterans, federal employees, ranchers, and educators - my focus remains on helping constituents. Shutdowns are no way to govern, and I hope my Democrat colleagues in the Senate come to that realization soon."

Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair Riley Moore (R-WV) said, "Senate Democrats are holding nearly a quarter million West Virginians hostage by refusing to fund SNAP, leaving families in my district uncertain about how they'll feed their children after Friday. Our Border Patrol agents, ICE agents, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers are all working without pay. Additionally, if it weren't for President Trump, our troops wouldn't be getting paid. New Social Security enrollees are facing delays. Farmers have not been able to access farm assistance programs. The American people are suffering because Democrats want a $1.5 trillion wish list of progressive demands, including defunding the Rural Hospital Stabilization Fund in order to pay for illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits. The American people deserve better than Chuck Schumer's political games. It's time to end the shutdown."

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