Local Representatives React To Government Shutdown

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. File photo.

The U.S. federal government officially shut down after Congress missed a midnight deadline to approve a funding deal.

The government shutdown largely stemmed from a dispute over Democratic demands to attach tax credits for Affordable Care Act health care plans to the funding bill, which they say is necessary as large premium increases loom. Democrats have also proposed restoring funding for public media and other programs.

“I have maintained this consistent position regardless of who is in leadership, because keeping the government open is not—and must never be—a partisan issue,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Middletown Township, posted on X, formerly Twitter, after voting for a funding bill.

Fitzpatrick posted a New York Times poll showing a shutdown would be unpopular with the public, adding that “collaboration must take place when the government is fully funded and open, not shut down.”

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, voiced support for extending the health care tax credits but said he does not back the “chaos of shuttering our government.”

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, commended Fetterman for voting with GOP senators to keep the government open.

The GOP senator placed the blame for the shutdown on Democrats, stating they want to add $1 trillion in spending.

Congressman Tom Kean, a Republican representing New Jersey’s Seventh District, said “shutting down the government is irresponsible and hurts American families.” He blamed Democratic New Jersey U.S. senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker for not voting on the Republican plan.

Booker posted a video saying that he supports a bill that lowers health care costs and reopens the government.

Kim said he was withholding pay during the shutdown, and he called on Republicans to work with Democrats to find a solution.

The government began shutdown plans after the deadline passed, which marks the first shutdown since a 34-day record closure that spanned late 2018 into early 2019 during the first term of President Donald Trump.

The standoff could furlough approximately 750,000 federal employees each day, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, blamed Democrats for trying to add health care policy conditions to the funding bill.

Top Democrats early Wednesday blamed Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, but they said Democrats are prepared to make a deal, according to CNBC.

The Trump administration has indicated that they might use the shutdown to permanently cut some government jobs, Fox News reported.

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