Dear Friend, 

Welcome back to the McBride Memo, my weekly dispatch to you. During the second week of the government shutdown, there is an ongoing campaign of disinformation about its cause and the path to reopening the government. This week, we are diving into specifics of how the shutdown is impacting Delawareans and addressing some of the shutdown myths. 

1. One Big Thing: Today marks the tenth day of the government shutdown—and it's been 21 days since the House met to vote. Every hour that ticks by is another reminder of what happens when politics are put ahead of people. While I showed up in Washington again this week ready to work, Speaker Johnson canceled votes for the third week in a row. 

We’re now two weeks in, and Delawareans are feeling it: missed paychecks, delayed services, and mounting disinformation about who caused this mess and how we get out of it. 

Let’s be clear: we’ve put forward solutions to reopen the government and protect the services families count on every day, but Republican leadership continues to choose chaos over compromise.

This week, I spoke with a few of my colleagues to talk through some of the biggest myths and misconceptions we’re hearing about the shutdown—and to set the record straight. You can watch those conversations here.

Meanwhile, my office continues to serve Delawareans throughout the shutdown. If you or someone you know has questions or is affected by federal delays, please visit the resource page on my website for the latest updates and support.

2. Driving The News: Last week and this week, we saw the devastating termination of more than 300 financial awards for energy projects around the country, including several innovative projects here in Delaware. It will amount to more than 300 million dollars illegally stripped from Delawareans working to lower our energy costs.

Energy is energy—and at a time when families are already struggling with higher prices, we need more tools to lower costs, not fewer. These cuts threaten Delaware jobs, will raise energy costs for working families, and set us back in the fight to deliver affordable, reliable power. I will fight to ensure these congressionally approved investments are restored, because every Delawarean deserves affordable energy and the good-paying jobs that come with building it. 

This isn’t about protecting taxpayers. It’s about politics. These are mobster tactics—the Trump administration is illegally slashing programs during this government shutdown in an attempt to force Democrats to vote for their cuts to health care and other lifesaving services. I will not be intimidated into giving this president a blank check to dismantle the very programs families rely on.

3. ICYMI: While Republicans in Congress are axing affordable health care and Medicaid in exchange for reopening government, your federal delegation is standing firm in demanding we keep fighting for health care. 

Higher premiums and less coverage for Delaware families is nonnegotiable for our neighbors, because the consequences are dire: it leaves far too many families facing an impossible decision of seeking care or staying afloat. In the wealthiest country on earth, that is an unacceptable ultimatum. 

Earlier this week, Senator Coons, Senator Blunt Rochester, and I shared more about our approach to this chaotic Republican shutdown, and you can follow the reporting of our conversations here. 

4. Legislative Priority: This week, we have seen a lot of conversations about the need to reopen the government in order to pay both our troops and all federal workers. I could not agree more. 

That's why I have supported legislation that would ensure payment for some of our federal employees—including military families and troops. But Speaker Johnson has refused to call the House back into session so that we can pass such measures—most of which would receive bipartisan support in the House. 

If my colleagues are serious about wanting to ensure there is no lapse in pay for our troops and other essential federal workers, then we have to be in session in D.C. to vote on measures that would secure such funding. Bottomline: in order to work for the American people, we have to come to work. I have been in D.C. and Delaware doing just that, I can only hope my colleagues across the aisle are willing to do the same.

5. Our State of Neighbors: This week, the Office of the Governor released a new resource page offering helpful information and contacts for any potential impacts on Delawareans during the government shutdown—check it out here. And even in a challenging week, Delawareans reminded me, yet again, what resilience and community look like in action.

With the government shutdown, I am splitting my time between our state and Washington, and getting a first hand view of how my neighbors are continuing their work at this critical moment: 

• At St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, I met with nurses and doctors to discuss how proposed Medicaid cuts would harm patients and strain our hospitals. Their message was clear: when we protect health care, we protect people. From graduate medical education to community partnerships like Healthy Village, their work proves that care is strongest when it starts close to home.
• With the Delaware Health Information Management Association, I joined health professionals focused on patient privacy, workforce challenges, and the technology that keeps our health system running. These behind-the-scenes experts are ensuring that health data serves patients—not bureaucracy—and I’m grateful for their leadership in modernizing care.
• At the Huck & Buck Farm, I got to meet with Andrea and Michael Haritos who own and operate a beautiful property that they have steadily transformed into a vibrant and dynamic space for gardens, animals, retreats, and events. My time there was filled with feeding goats and pigs, and picking berries—more than a day of joy, it was a living reminder of the power of art and tradition to bring people together across generations.
• Meeting with the Downtown Dover Partnership, I heard about the revitalization efforts transforming our capital city. From small-business grants to streetscape improvements, they’re proving what’s possible when local leadership and federal investment work hand in hand to make downtown a destination again.
• At the People’s Community Center, I saw how a once-abandoned church has become a hub of hope—offering addiction recovery programs, after-school tutoring, mental-health support, and nightly meals for neighbors in need. Their motto could not be clearer: community care saves lives.
• The Inner City Cultural League continues to make art accessible for every child and family in Dover. From music education to dance programs, their work uplifts the cultural legacy of Black Delawareans while creating new opportunities for the next generation.
• At First & Central Presbyterian Church, I shared reflections on faith, public service, and civic courage. We talked about how communities of faith can bridge division and help build a politics grounded in dignity and care.
• Later that day at the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, we gathered to discuss my memoir Tomorrow Will Be Different—and how storytelling and empathy can be catalysts for change. I left reminded that honesty and hope are powerful tools in hard times.
• At the Delaware Military Academy, I met with students and educators shaping the next generation of leaders. Their discipline and sense of duty are matched only by their optimism—a powerful reminder that service takes many forms.
• Touring Avkin, Inc. in Wilmington, I saw cutting-edge simulation technology revolutionizing how nurses and doctors are trained. Delaware is helping define the future of health-care education—and Avkin is proof that innovation thrives where compassion leads.
• During my visit to FMC’s Stine Campus in Newark, I spoke with scientists and engineers advancing sustainable agriculture and precision technology to help farmers meet global challenges. Their research is strengthening both our food systems and our local economy.
• In Wilmington, I met leaders of Caribbean Culture Awareness Inc.—a Delaware-based nonprofit dedicated to uplifting underserved Caribbean communities up and down our state. Our meeting centered on the importance of building bridges for Delaware’s Caribbean community and highlighted the cultural diversity that is the heartbeat of Delaware. We also spoke about the annual Caribbean Carnival Festival and the organizers’ message was simple but powerful: our strength as a state comes from honoring every culture that calls Delaware home.
• It was an honor to welcome and celebrate Ambassador Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, India’s Consul General, alongside Delaware’s Indian community. We reflected on the enduring partnership between our nations and the rich cultural and economic contributions of Indian Americans here in the First State. The evening underscored what diplomacy at its best looks like—building bridges of understanding, friendship, and shared purpose between neighbors near and far.

Rep. McBride at Huck & Buck Farm.

Rep. McBride meets with the Inner City Cultural League.

Everywhere I went, Delawareans showed what it means to be a state of neighbors—rooted in care, powered by community, and united by purpose.

I am continuing to work to reopen the government and filling my days with as many Delawareans as I can. This week and every week, I will keep showing up for you and working to protect and defend the health care of Delawareans. 

Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• 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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