RSC Member-Veterans and Reservists to Schumer: Stop the Shutdown Theater, Our Enemies Are Watching
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) and RSC National Security Task Force Chairman Zach Nunn (IA-03) led 27 RSC Members, all veterans and serving Reservists and Guardsmen, in sending a blistering letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanding he and his caucus immediately end the government shutdown that is decimating military readiness.
The letter, covered first by Breitbart News, comes after Senate Democrats voted against the clean continuing resolution nine times, despite the fact that it extends government funding at spending levels previously championed by President Biden and congressional Democrats. The ongoing shutdown is having devastating consequences for military readiness, servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Notably, without President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's decisive action, military families would have missed paychecks today.
Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) slammed the Left for their political games: "Minority Leader Chuck Schumer owns this disaster, so we're making sure he can't hide from it. Senate Democrats have voted nine times against funding the government. Our troops nearly missed paychecks until President Trump took unilateral action to ensure they got paid. Training is still halted. Readiness is collapsing. All because Schumer wants healthcare for illegal immigrants more than a combat-ready military. We're putting Leader Schumer and his radical colleagues on notice: while commanders are helping troops find food instead of running combat drills, our enemies are watching and preparing. We're losing combat edge that takes months to rebuild. The House did its job and the President did his. Now it's the Democrats' turn: stop the games, open the government."
The letter outlines the severe consequences of the shutdown on military readiness: nearly 334,900 Department of Defense civilians are furloughed, halting critical logistics, maintenance, and base operations; Reserve and Guard training has been disrupted, reducing combat readiness; all VA benefits regional offices are closed, preventing veterans from accessing disability claims, employment services, and burial benefits.
Members strongly urge Leader Schumer to immediately prioritize national security and the needs of veterans over political aims by passing the House’s clean government funding bill immediately.
Read the full text of the letter HERE or below:
**The letter to Leader Schumer was signed by Representatives August Pfluger, Zach Nunn, Joe Wilson, Scott Fitzgerald, Barry Loudermilk, Neal Dunn, Rich McCormick, John McGuire, Troy Downing, Keith Self, Sheri Biggs, Max Miller, Greg Steube, Brian Mast, Ronny Jackson, Tom Barrett, William Timmons, Don Bacon, Jack Bergman, Pat Harrigan, James R. Baird, Abe Hamadeh, Tony Gonzales, Wesley Hunt, Andrew Clyde, Anna Paulina Luna, and Pat Fallon.