Government Shutdown Q&A: How did we get here, and when will it end? A: On September 19th, House Republicans passed a commonsense, nonpartisan extension of government funding at current spending levels until November 21st. This is called a clean Continuing Resolution (CR). I voted for this measure to keep the government open.
We passed this CR well ahead of the September 30th deadline to give the Senate plenty of time to act. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have voted against passing the CR twelve times, creating a lapse in government funding and causing the government to shut down. Q: Why do you call this a commonsense, nonpartisan plan? - This short-term measure simply extends current government spending levels that were set by the Biden administration.
- The Democrats have themselves voted to extend funding at these levels 13 times in the past.
- The government has never been shut down over a clean CR—there are no partisan additions to the bill the House passed, and therefore nothing that can be removed to negotiate an extension.
Q: Since Republicans control the House, Senate, and the White House, why can’t they open up the government themselves? A: While Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate, the process for passing funding bills requires bipartisan cooperation.
In the Senate, a rule called the filibuster allows unlimited debate on most bills unless 60 Senators agree to end debate. That 60-vote step, called cloture, must happen before a vote on final passage of the bill can take place.
So even though Republicans have a 53–47 majority in the Senate, we still need at least seven Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to move forward. Three Senate Democrats have joined in voting to reopen the government, but the remaining Democrats have voted 12 times against the CR to open the government. Q: Why is House Speaker Mike Johnson holding things up? A: Speaker Johnson is not holding things up. No bill becomes law without Senate passage and the President’s signature. The House already passed the CR on September 19, 2025, in a bipartisan vote. The current gridlock is in the Senate. Speaker Johnson has been clear that the Senate must pass the CR so the government can get back to work for the people. Q: Why aren’t leaders from both parties working to find a compromise? A: By design, a CR is a temporary, compromise tool to keep the federal government open while full-year funding negotiations continue.
House Republicans passed a clean CR, meaning no partisan policies were added to the bill. It’s a 24-page bill that simply keeps funding at the same levels Democrats enacted themselves and voted for 13 times during the Biden administration.
We could have changed those levels or added Republican priorities, but we didn’t. We chose to keep the status quo so Democrats would support it. This is the first time in history the government has shut down over a clean CR. Q: Why don’t Republicans care about lowering health costs? A: Republicans absolutely want to lower health care costs. Unfortunately, the Left has conflated two entirely different issues. The government funding deadline was September 30, 2025, while the temporary COVID credits are set to expire January 1, 2026.
We are actively working on reforms to this program and are more than willing to work together to pass reforms once the government is open. Until then, the government and federal employees are being held hostage on this unrelated issue with a separate timeline.
Furthermore, several additional facts about this issue are being ignored. First, the original Obamacare tax credits are not going away. Americans who qualify under the Affordable Care Act will continue to receive assistance. What Congress is debating is the temporary “enhanced” premium tax credits—created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These tax credits extended eligibility to people beyond 400 percent of federal poverty level and were intended as a temporary program to encourage people to buy insurance coverage during COVID. Democrats created the program and set the expiration deadline themselves, underscoring the intention to make it temporary, not permanent. Making the program permanent will cost American taxpayers more than $350 billion over the next 10 years.
We should all be asking, if the Affordable Care Act was working as intended, would we need these enhanced tax credits? We need to focus on long-term solutions that actually make health care more affordable for working families—not just expand government subsidies that go directly to insurance companies. I look forward to having this conversation with colleagues on both sides of the aisle once Senate Democrats vote for the House-passed CR which will fund the government. Q: Why have House members been on vacation for the past month rather than working for their constituents? A: Throughout the year, Members of Congress spend many weeks in Washington where we work on legislation, attend committee hearings, debate bills on the House Floor, and vote on legislation. This is called being “in-session.”
We also spend time back home when Congress is “out of session,” which we call “District Work Periods.” This is not a vacation, but time specifically set aside so members can meet with constituents, businesses, and local leaders. This helps inform my work back in Washington.
Since the government has been shut down, I’ve been in both Washington D.C. and throughout North Dakota. Here’s a list of the work I’ve been doing this past month: Q: Why are members of Congress and their staff getting paid while other federal employees are missing their paychecks? A: Although members of Congress can continue to receive their salaries during a shutdown, I have requested that my pay be withheld. Member salaries are funded through mandatory appropriations, while the current government funding battle relates to discretionary spending.
While federal employees affected by the lapse of government funding are later guaranteed back pay under law, many people cannot afford to go without a paycheck. President Trump took decisive action to ensure our troops continue to receive their paychecks. Using existing Pentagon funds, the administration made sure that active-duty service members and essential defense personnel would not be caught in Washington’s budget battles. It’s a commonsense decision that puts those who protect our nation first. Q: Where can I go for additional information during the shutdown? A: Even during the shutdown, my team is here to help. For updates and resources, click here. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call my office at (202) 225-2611. This government shutdown is very frustrating. More than a month ago, I voted for and the House passed a bill to keep the government open. I hope the Senate reaches a bipartisan solution soon to end this stress and uncertainty for federal workers and put the government back to work for the Americans who finance it.
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