10.21.25

Democrats’ Government Shutdown Drags On

The Longest Full-Government Shutdown in History Has Compounding Consequences for Americans Across the Country

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THREE WEEKS INTO THEIR GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, DEMOCRATS ARE “TERRIFIED” OF GETTING “HAMMERED” BY THEIR PROGRESSIVE BASE

“People are going to get hammered.” – Anonymous Senate Democrat

  • “As Washington’s stalemate continues into its fourth week with no end in sight, it’s looking like this could become one of America’s longest funding lapses.” (The New York Times: Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat – 10/21/25)
  • “There’s no resolution in sight to the crisis.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Do Democrats now have an off ramp? – 10/20/25)
  • “It’s already the longest full government shutdown ever. The 2018-2019 (partial) shutdown lasted 35 days, while the 1995-96 spending impasse (also partial) lasted 21 days.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Do Democrats now have an off ramp? – 10/20/25)
  • “Some Democrats skeptical about their leadership’s hard-line stance against reopening the federal government privately acknowledge that they fear getting ‘hammered’ by their liberal base if they vote for a Republican funding bill.” (The Hill: Democratic senators fear getting ‘hammered’ after ‘No Kings’ for ending shutdown – 10/20/25)
  • “[L]iberal advocates championing the fight say they are ready and on the lookout for any inkling of a Democratic defection. They’re armed with pre-made advertisements, campaign fundraising and networks of millions of people in every U.S. state ready to hit the streets and blow up senators’ phone lines.” (Bloomberg: Progressive Groups Spend Big to Keep Democrats United on Shutdown – 10/10/25)
  • “‘If a senator goes on CNN and says, “We need to meet Republicans where they are at and reopen the government before there are talks,” then we go on offense,’ Joe Jacobson of the Progress Action Fund said… Jacobson said the group will also go on offense if Democrats ‘cave’ for a mere promise of future discussions or a vote on a Democratic proposal later.” (Bloomberg: Progressive Groups Spend Big to Keep Democrats United on Shutdown – 10/10/25)
  • “In that context, Democrats know they will get hit hard by a number of voices on the left if they do not get something for opening the government.” (The Hill: Democratic senators fear getting ‘hammered’ after ‘No Kings’ for ending shutdown – 10/20/25)
  • “‘We would have enough votes’ to reopen the government ‘if people were not terrified of getting the guillotine,’ the second person said.” (The Hill: Democratic senators fear getting ‘hammered’ after ‘No Kings’ for ending shutdown – 10/20/25)

DEMOCRATS ARE PUTTING POLITICS AHEAD OF SAFETY AND SECURITY WITH THEIR RECKLESS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

“This is not a partisan issue, and for the sake of our national security, my Democrat colleagues should work with us to adopt the clean Continuing Resolution, which would immediately reopen the government and put an end to these risks.” – Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

  • “The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee warned Friday that the federal agency that oversees the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons is planning to implement deep staff reductions as the government shutdown continues.” (CBS News: Agency overseeing nuclear stockpile planning for deep staff cuts as shutdown continues – 10/17/25)
    • “The National Nuclear Security Administration is part of the Department of Energy, and one of its core missions is ‘to ensure the United States maintains a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear stockpile through the application of unparalleled science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing,’ according to its website.” (CBS News: Agency overseeing nuclear stockpile planning for deep staff cuts as shutdown continues – 10/17/25)
    • “The notice provided by the NNSA to Rogers' office said that money used to pay salaries and expenses is expected to run out on Saturday. Once it does, roughly 1,400 employees will be placed on furlough, and 375 employees will continue to work, the agency said.” (CBS News: Agency overseeing nuclear stockpile planning for deep staff cuts as shutdown continues – 10/17/25)
  • “The Federal Aviation Administration said late Sunday that air traffic control staffing issues were delaying travel at airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark…” (NBC News: Air traffic control staffing issues cause flight delays across U.S. – 10/20/25)
    • “Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday morning appeared to address the issue on ‘Fox and Friends,’ noting that because of the government shutdown, air traffic controllers will not be paid, so a lot of them are seeking other work to ‘keep their families afloat.’” (NBC News: Air traffic control staffing issues cause flight delays across U.S. – 10/20/25)

AMERICANS WHO RELY ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS FACE NEW UNCERTAINTY AND STRESS

“Millions of vulnerable, hungry families won’t have access to these programs because of this shutdown.” –Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins

  • “Millions of families could go without food aid next month, states have begun warning, as the government shutdown threatens November's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps.” (Axios: Shutdown could halt SNAP benefits for millions, states say – 10/20/25)
    • “An administration official said in a letter to state agencies earlier this month that there would be ‘insufficient funds’ to pay full November benefits for some 42 million people.” (Axios: Shutdown could halt SNAP benefits for millions, states say – 10/20/25)
  • “Nearly 1.4 million Georgians enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could lose benefits Nov. 1 without a deal in Washington. That would leave low-income families uncertain about food access through the holidays.” (WRDW Atlanta: 1.4M Georgians face looming SNAP cutoff amid shutdown – 10/20/25)
    • “Tabitha Brown, a single mother of five who receives SNAP benefits, said she worries about her children going hungry. ‘When the stamps cut off after this month, what happens next month?’ Brown said.” (WRDW Atlanta: 1.4M Georgians face looming SNAP cutoff amid shutdown – 10/20/25)
    • Yet, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) “has been firmly on board with Democrats’ shutdown strategy, demanding action on health care in exchange for the votes to pass a CR.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Health care costs explode in key Senate states – 10/21/25)
  • In Michigan, “Many community resources across Metro Detroit are facing significant hurdles, as the federal funding used to support their work is quickly running out.” (CBS News Detroit: Detroit voters concerned with uncertainty of SNAP benefits – 10/20/25)
    • “One area hardest hit is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which replaced food stamps and helps feed more than a million Michiganders statewide. ‘If SNAP is lost, it will devastate this community,’ said Brother Fred Cabras, director of social services for Capuchin Soup Kitchen.” (CBS News Detroit: Detroit voters concerned with uncertainty of SNAP benefits – 10/20/25)
    • “In Detroit, nearly 18% of residents struggle to afford what they need to support their families. ‘These are folks that are already dealing with a lot, and to have uncertainty about whether or not they're going to be able to afford groceries next month is really an unfair burden to them,’ said Eric Candela, director of Government Relations at Forgotten Harvest.” (CBS News Detroit: Detroit voters concerned with uncertainty of SNAP benefits – 10/20/25)

DEMOCRATS’ GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS CAUSING ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT HARM SMALL BUSINESSES AND FARMERS

“While Senate Democrats vote to keep the government closed, federal resources for small businesses are frozen - from SBA loans to federal contracts. They have cut off billions in capital for Main Street - threatening jobs, growth, and the survival of small businesses.” – Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler

  • “Economists estimate that the shutdown will trim between 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points off annual growth in economic output for each week it drags on. That amounts to between $7.6 billion and $15.2 billion a week based on hours that government employees aren’t working, according to Oxford Economics.” (The New York Times: Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat – 10/21/25)
    • “That estimation does not capture the ways federal services support economic activity in other sectors, where the effect could be narrow but deep. Consider visa processing. Much of it is performed by contractors, who were told to stop work on Oct. 1.” (The New York Times: Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat – 10/21/25)
  • “Small-business owners want the government back to work, according to a survey of nearly 1,500 of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses participants, shared exclusively with Axios.” (Axios: Why small business is worried about the government shutdown – 10/20/25)
    • “For the 20% of small-business owner respondents to the survey who rely on government contracts, the duration of the shutdown is forcing them to pull back on spending to make payroll, including hiring, supplies and services.” (Axios: Why small business is worried about the government shutdown – 10/20/25)
    • “Brandon Muniz owns a Maryland information technology provider, HeiTech Services, which relies on federal contracts… Mr. Muniz has had to lay off 15 people this year and furlough another 25 because of the shutdown. He worries about getting them back if they find other jobs and keeping the business afloat in the meantime.” (The New York Times: Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat – 10/21/25)
  • “The federal government also guarantees a significant share of credit markets through agencies whose work has been significantly curtailed, including the Small Business Administration and the Department of Agriculture.”’ (The New York Times: Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat – 10/21/25)
    • “For farms and small businesses, October is a critical month for borrowing money. Some are paying their taxes, having gotten a six-month extension from the spring. Others are trying to stock up on inventory, or purchase equipment for the upcoming planting season.” (The New York Times: Shutdown With No Clear End Poses New Economic Threat – 10/21/25)