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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to the McBride Memo. Unfortunately, this week’s update is not the one I hoped to send. At midnight on October 1st, the federal government shut down because Congressional Republicans refused to extend health care funding and pass a bipartisan budget. This shutdown is unnecessary, reckless, and deeply harmful to Delaware families, seniors, veterans, and workers. I want to use this week’s Memo to cut through the noise—sharing what this means for our state, where you can find resources, and what I’m doing to reopen the government.
1. One Big Thing: Republican leadership is so committed to cutting health care and sucking up to Donald Trump, they have spiraled the nation into a shutdown. They are holding the country hostage to an extreme agenda. Republicans could have avoided this shutdown if they simply had the courage to negotiate and the compassion to save health care.
For Delaware, the stakes are real and immediate: more than 1,400 federal employees are furloughed without pay, 5,400 more are reporting to work without a paycheck, and programs that help families afford housing, food, and small business loans are grinding to a halt.
I will continue to fight to lower costs, protect care, and reopen a government that follows the rule of law. Delawareans deserve dignity and certainty in all parts of their lives. Trump offers cruelty and chaos instead.
Earlier this week, I spoke a bit about why we were headed towards a government shutdown, you can watch that video here.
2. Driving The News: What this means for Delaware. Across the headlines, you’ll see Washington drama. But the real story is at home. Here in Delaware:
Without action, ACA premium subsidies will expire, spiking premiums and threatening coverage for more than 16,000 Delawareans.
Regional Veterans Administration offices will close.
Military families will miss paychecks.
SNAP and WIC are at risk of running dry if the shutdown drags on past the end of this month—threatening food for thousands of families.
Rural hospitals could lose critical Medicaid support, putting maternity wards and mental health clinics in jeopardy.
I refuse to let billionaires get tax breaks while Delaware kids go hungry. That’s why I’m cosponsoring the Feed Our Families Act—to keep food assistance running for 90 days in a shutdown. It is also why I spent the week in Washington with my Democratic colleagues, ready to work on solutions that address these concerns.
3. ICYMI: Your questions, answered. My team has pulled together a FAQ and resource guide for Delawareans, which you can find here. In the meantime, you can follow live reporting about the shutdown here and keep up with me on my social media channels where I will keep you posted on everything you need to know.
4. Legislative Priority: What comes next. To protect Delawareans through this chaos, I’ve cosponsored several urgent bills:
Pay Federal Workers and Service Members Act: Allows federal employees and servicemembers who are working without pay to access unemployment benefits.
Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act: Ensures our Coast Guard personnel don’t miss paychecks.
Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act: Guarantees back pay for cafeteria staff, janitors, and other federal contract workers.
Funding Small Businesses During Shutdowns Act: Keeps SBA loans flowing for 30 days.
And on top of all of this, I am working alongside my colleagues to make sure that we keep sounding the alarm on the need to protect the health care coverage so many of my neighbors count on. Bottom line: no worker, no veteran, no Delaware family should be collateral damage in this partisan standoff.
5. Our State of Neighbors: How we’re helping at home. In this difficult moment, there are a few Delawareans bearing the brunt of the shutdown:
- Health care providers who are worried that their facilities will not be able to keep their doors open and continue saving lives. (P.S. I spoke with Jan White, a cancer survivor and advocate for affordable health care access and coverage, about what these impacts could look like, watch our video here.)
- Postal workers worried about attacks on the federal workforce.
- Union members demanding that workers’ pay and benefits aren’t used as bargaining chips.
- Parents worried about the SNAP benefits and school lunches that get their kids through the school week.
People need certainty and through the shutdown and beyond, my Delaware and D.C. offices remain open and ready to help you navigate Social Security, VA, Medicare, passports, and more—even if federal agencies are delayed. You can reach us at:
Wilmington: (302) 830-2330
Georgetown: (302) 752-9140
Washington, DC: (202) 225-4165
Submit a casework request
While we work to reopen the government, my promise is simple: we’ll keep showing up for you. We will get through this shutdown together—and I’ll keep fighting for a government that treats every Delawarean with dignity and respect.
| Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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- DEADLINE APPROACHING: Service Academy Nominations—Our office is accepting applications from Delaware students seeking nominations to our nation’s prestigious service academies! As a member of Congress, it is my honor to support these students in their efforts to serve our nation in uniform. The application deadline is October 15th and you can find more information on eligibility and application requirements here.
- Time is running out to register for Delaware EARNS! Don’t wait—missing the October 2025 deadline could result in penalties for your business. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s legally required. Get started at EARNSDelaware.com.
- Are you working in a STEM field in Delaware—or thinking about it? The new STAR Fund just launched to help folks like you pay down student loans while building a career here at home. Thanks to a partnership between the Delaware Division of Small Business and BioConnect DE, eligible workers in science, tech, engineering, math, and related fields can apply for up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement over four years. Learn more and apply here!
- Congressional App Challenge: Calling all young coders! The Congressional App Challenge is now open to all middle and high school students in Delaware. This nationwide competition is a chance to flex your creativity, build real-world STEM skills, and develop your very own app. The winning app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and featured at the national #HouseOfCode celebration. Learn more and get started here.
- Scholarship Opportunity: Students facing financial hurdles in their final year of school may be eligible for up to $2,500 through the Sallie Mae Fund’s Completing the Dream Scholarship, offered in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. These awards are designed to help cover unexpected costs that could prevent students from graduating. Applications are open now and will be accepted until December 1, 2025 — or until funds run out. Learn more: SallieMae.com.
- Help navigating a federal agency: If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem. If you need help navigating a federal agency, please visit: mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency
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