Day 36 of Democrats' Reckless Government Shutdown: Americans Can't Wait Much Longer

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today marks the longest government shutdown in U.S. history thanks to the political theatrics of Congressional Democrats. For over a month, Democrats in the U.S. Senate have blocked a clean, non-partisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government. Instead of doing the right thing, Democrats are holding the American people hostage for their radical wishlist, which includes $1.5 trillion in new spending and taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens.

As Americans are at risk of losing SNAP benefits, air traffic control towers are understaffed causing flight delays, servicemembers are being pulled from critical training, and hundreds of thousands of federal employees are working without pay, Democrats have sat idly by watching citizens suffer. Even more jarring is that Democrats have openly admitted to using hardworking American families as a “negotiating tool” for the Left.

Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) marked this bleak milestone while imploring their Democrat colleagues to end the political games and reopen the government:

"Today marks the longest government shutdown in American history – a shameful record driven by Democrat dysfunction. While I voted more than a month ago to fund the government, Democrats have weaponized this shutdown for political gain, and hardworking Americans are paying the price. Critical resources and services are drying up, our service members are being distracted from their mission, and air traffic controllers, border agents, and federal employees are working without pay. The American people deserve better than partisan games. It's time for Democrats to end the theatrics and reopen the government,” said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).

“Across the country, federal employees, air traffic controllers, and public safety professionals continue to show up and serve their country even as Democrats’ record-breaking shutdown holds their paychecks hostage," said RSC Vice-Chair Ben Cline (VA-06). "Our public safety workers and federal employees are doing their jobs, and it’s past time for Senate Democrats to do theirs. House Republicans have already acted to fund the government and provide certainty for those who keep America running. Senate Democrats should follow suit and put the American people first.”

“The Schumer Shutdown has dragged into the history books. 36 days of fear-driven obstruction from Senate Democrats. While families struggle, the Left uses their pain as ‘leverage’ to cling to control instead of seeking solutions. It’s time they remember who they serve: the American people, not their political egos,” said RSC Messaging Task Force Chair Mark Alford (MO-04).

“Senate Democrats just broke Washington’s record for dysfunction. As we hit the longest shutdown in American history, I spent the day with Iowa farmers, veterans, small business owners, families, and volunteers stepping up to fill the gap. Across the board, the message was clear: stop the political games and open the government,” said RSC National Security Task Force Chair Zach Nunn (IA-03).

“Democrats have turned hardworking Americans into pawns in their effort to funnel taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants and liberal media allies. Their Far-Left base is furious that President Trump and Congressional Republicans are delivering on the America First agenda—and they’ve demanded this shutdown until their radical demands are met. The American people see right through their games. I urge Democrats to quit playing games, reopen the government, and let us get back to lowering costs for families and restoring American leadership,” said RSC HEAT Chair Troy Balderson (OH-12).

“Today marks the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, a direct result of the Democrats' failure to put the American people first. Their refusal to work with Republicans and their obsession with reckless spending continue to leave federal workers without pay and disrupt essential services. The American people deserve better than a government held hostage by the left's radical priorities,” said RSC Article One Task Force Chair Harriet Hageman (WY-AL).

“This isn’t a shutdown — it’s a shakedown. While families, service members, and small businesses feel the strain, Democrats are holding Washington hostage to force through their runaway spending and partisan wish list," said RSC Emerging Tech Task Force Chair Kat Cammack (FL-03). "House Republicans have already acted to keep the government open and protect taxpayers. We will continue fighting for fiscal responsibility and accountability, because the American people deserve better than political blackmail disguised as governing.”

“Washington Democrats have inflicted the longest government shutdown in history because they care about one thing: holding power over the American people to force us to live by their radical demands. While Republicans are offering solutions to lower costs and expand job opportunities for working families, Democrats have chosen to harm needy Americans, endanger air safety as air traffic controllers struggle to work without pay, and compromise the healthcare of seniors and veterans,” said RSC Task Force Chair on Budget and Spending Beth Van Duyne (TX-24).

“Democrats don’t care who gets hurt as long as they can score political points. Air traffic controllers, federal workers, and American families deserve better than this shutdown circus. Senate Democrats need to wake up, pass the clean CR, and open the government now,” said Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24).

"Now that Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York, maybe the Marxist billionaires running the Democratic Party will give comrade Schumer permission to reopen the government," said Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06).

“Senate Democrats are solely responsible for the longest and most unnecessary shutdown in American history. Rather than engage with President Trump and their Republican colleagues in good faith, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries inflicted pointless suffering on working families in order to placate their base. Neither the history books nor the voters will forget their willful betrayal of the public for their own political ends,” said Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17).

"This is officially the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, a painful new record as Democrats continue to play political games at the expense of the American people. In Utah and across the country, families can’t access the SNAP benefits they depend on, workers are showing up without a paycheck, our troops are unsure when their next one will come, travelers face frustrating delays, and small businesses have been cut off from critical loans. I urge Senate Democrats to put America first, end this chaos today, and vote YES on the same clean, nonpartisan CR they supported 13 times under the Biden administration,” said Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04).

“Today marks the longest shutdown in American history—all thanks to the Democrat Party,” said Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22). “In an effort to cater to the far-left wing of its base, the Democrat Party chose to shut down the government, leaving hardworking Americans behind. Air traffic controllers, federal law enforcement officers, and other federal workers are working without pay due to the Democrats’ political games. Democrats continue to prove they care more about giving healthcare to illegal aliens than keeping our government open and operating to do the work of We the People. While Chuck Schumer says “every day gets better” for the Democrat Party, the longer this shutdown lasts, the more pain is inflicted upon the American people. Sadly, Democrats see this pain as “leverage” for their radical agenda. It’s time for the Democrat Party to do the right thing and end this shutdown. America is waiting.” 

"Today marks the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. No one wins when Washington fails and hardworking Americans are left to pay the price. While Democrats continue to keep the government closed, our active duty servicemembers, National Guard, and Reservists are still showing up every day, serving without pay. More than 2 million men and women in uniform are fulfilling their duty while Senate Democrats refuse to do theirs. It's time to end the political games, reopen the government, and get back to work for the American people who sent us here to serve," said Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-07).