Shutdown Continues
Status Update
It’s Day 10 of the government shutdown and there has been a frustrating lack of movement towards opening the government back up.
As a refresher for folks on how we got here, the government shut down when a majority of Senate Democrats blocked a clean, seven-week continuing resolution (CR) that would have kept the government open while giving Congress more time to pass full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026. Weeks ago, House Republicans and one House Democrat passed this CR, sending it to the Senate. But House rules are different from Senate rules, where CR passage requires more than a simple majority—60 votes to be exact.
Congressional Democrats’ unwillingness to support the straightforward CR is simultaneously perplexing and telling of their larger political agenda. Democrats say they won’t vote for the CR in the name of protecting enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that were established during the pandemic and later extended. Although these subsidies don’t expire until December, the timing for the Democrats’ “line in the sand” is convenient as open enrollment season approaches and those receiving these subsidies are notified that their premiums will increase next year with the expiration of the tax credits. I use the term “convenient” when referring to the timing because it is curious that Democrats largely waited until now to sound the alarm for these subsidies when the expiration date was set by Democrats themselves.
For the record, negotiation on whether to extend these subsides and for how long is certainly something I and my fellow Republicans are open to, but, as I’ve said before, it is a debate that needs to happen when the government is open.
Democrats’ other wish list items in their counter proposal to the clean CR amount to around $1.5 trillion in new spending. Their proposal also aims to repeal sections of the One Big Beautiful Bill, including removing work requirements for able-bodied, working-age adults on Medicaid, as well as provisions that curb the use of federal dollars to provide benefits to illegal immigrants.
With Democrats’ demands being so extreme in contrast to Republicans’ proposal—an extension of Biden-era funding levels—you can see how there isn't room for Republicans to “negotiate” without compromising the best interests of the American people.
What’s at stake?
The consequences of a government shutdown are both costly and far-reaching. Last week, I outlined a few of the impacts, but today I want to take a deeper look at how this shutdown —and Democrats’ refusal to pass the CR— is affecting our nation.
Armed Forces
Members of our Armed Forces continue to carry out their duties at home and abroad without pay. This means that Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians are not receiving base pay or special allowances such as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or airborne status pay. They’re also being denied Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Substance (BAS), the Basic Needs Allowance (which helps address food insecurity), and financial assistance for childcare.
Veterans
The CR provides continued funding for veteran independent and assisted living support, including long-term care for those suffering from chronic illness, disabilities, and memory disorders. It also includes funding for suicide prevention programs and expanded mental health services for veterans in rural areas. Each of these programs are now at risk.
Health Care
Democrats’ vote against the CR undermines patient care. Without the CR, community health centers serving underserved populations face funding cuts, research into new diabetes treatments is halted, and Medicare telehealth access is restricted.
Border and Homeland Security
Border Patrol agents, ICE officers, and TSA agents are still required to report for duty, but without a paycheck.
Agriculture and Nutrition
Should Democrats extend the shutdown further into October, SNAP benefits could be disrupted, potentially affecting the 240,000 SNAP enrollees in Arkansas, including an estimated 93,000 children. Additionally, the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC, will soon run out of money. President Trump has indicated he will use tariff revenue to fund the program during the shutdown, but this a new and untested method which could easily lead to program disruptions.
Transportation
Nearly 29,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees and air traffic controllers are also being asked to work without pay, and we’re already seeing the fallout in the form of airport delays across the country.
Flood Insurance
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by FEMA, is experiencing a lapse. As a result, FEMA is unable to issue new flood insurance policies, increase coverage on existing polices, or process renewals, leaving many properties at risk during an active hurricane season.
Small Business
During a shutdown, Small Business Administration loan distributions are frozen. In Arkansas, this could mean delays of around $14 million in funding over the course of a one-month shutdown.
Broader Economic Impact
According to the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Arkansas’s Gross State Product could decline by approximately $98 million each week the shutdown continues. There are also 21,000 federal workers in the state of Arkansas that are at risk of being furloughed or required to work without pay.
We’re here to help you.
Despite the shutdown, my office remains open and fully operational. My team and I are here to answer your calls and assist with any challenges related to the shutdown.
Have a great weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around! Be sure to check out my website, X, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
|