Weekly Update
The Longest Shutdown in American History
This week, our nation marked a somber milestone: the longest government shutdown in American history.
I’ll be the first to say that this is not the kind of history that Congress should be making. Instead of hitting milestones that leave millions of Americans in limbo, we should be working to advance commonsense, pro-growth policies to support you and your family.
I know this, and any responsible lawmaker knows it. But where do we go from here?
The way out of this shutdown is no longer as straightforward as it was a few weeks ago. At that time, all Senate Democrats needed to do was pass the clean continuing resolution (CR) that the House approved on September 19. The challenge now is that the CR expires on November 21. Even if Senate Democrats were to reverse course and vote for its passage today, we would still be facing a very tight deadline to avoid yet another full government shutdown. One way or another, we will need to pass a new CR with a new funding deadline that gives us more time to complete full-year appropriations.
The likely solution could be a proposal that includes a new CR, a package of appropriations bills, and a separate vote on the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, but even today, we have seen that striking a deal is no easy feat.
On the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, President Trump has expressed his desire for Senators to eliminate the filibuster—an action referred to as “nuclear option.”
The filibuster allows the minority in the Senate to block the passage of a bill until 60 of the 100 members agree to limit debate and move forward with a vote. Removing it would enable Republicans, with their 53–47 majority, to pass legislation without any Democrat support. While this could be useful for reopening the government, the long-term consequences are something that many lawmakers want to avoid, as history has shown it can backfire.
In 2013, the late Senator Reid abolished the filibuster for executive nominees and lower-court judges to allow Democrats to confirm then-President Obama’s nominees. However, many would later come to regret the decision during President Trump’s first term and current term when Republicans were able to confirm his nominees without Democrat backing.
Theoretically, the filibuster could be reinstated, but it is like toothpaste out of the tube. Once it’s out, it’s extremely hard to put back in. For what it’s worth, there does not appear to be much interest among Senate Republicans in abolishing it.
Meanwhile, we continue to see the fallout of the shutdown across the country. Although the Trump Administration approved payments of November SNAP benefits with money taken from the Department of Agriculture’s contingency fund, these payments will not be made in full and will take time to process.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also warned that it would need to shut down airspace in certain areas due to safety concerns. Airports nationwide have experienced millions of delays and numerous ground stops due to staffing shortages of air traffic controllers. These essential workers missed their second full paycheck this week and many are skipping shifts to take on other jobs to cover their bills.
We also learned that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps households cover energy costs, could run out of funding by the end of the week. Without assistance, many families may not be able to afford to heat their homes as the weather becomes colder.
If the ongoing shutdown is directly affecting you, please do not hesitate to call my office. My team and I are here to answer your calls and assist how we can.
In other news…
In Fayetteville, I attended and spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of infrastructure improvements along the Highway 112 corridor.
Highway 112 is critical to travel in Northwest Arkansas—one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
To support the growth we’ve already made—and to prepare for the growth still ahead—these infrastructure improvements are absolutely essential. That’s why I’ve been a strong advocate for this project, both through the Department of Transportation (DOT) grant process and in securing $3 million for the project in my Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
This is how the federal government should operate: supporting our communities so they can improve the lives of the people in it. Great infrastructure is the foundation of a great community, and that’s exactly what this project represents.
Over the past month, the government shutdown has created a grave amount of uncertainty. This is unacceptable and just one of many reasons why a functioning federal government is so vital to our communities and to the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
It is my sincere hope that we can find a resolution to the government shutdown as soon as possible, so Congress can return to work and pass full-year funding bills that will support projects across the country, like Highway 112.
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. |