The Schumer Shutdown

By: Skylar Ribotsky

“…Everything happens for a reason. But sometimes the reason is, ‘you’re stupid and made a bad decision.’ That’s the bottom line of the Democrat government shutdown.” – Senator John Kennedy

What’s Really Going On in D.C.

Democrats are claiming that Republicans cut funding to critical healthcare programs and argue that the healthcare system is already broken. Instead of repairing it, they say Republicans are making matters worse. Republicans, however, have spent months working to pass resolutions and drafted a clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government open past September 30th, just as Congress has always done. That resolution was not partisan. It was about keeping the government running for the American people.

Chuck Schumer himself has spent decades saying you don’t shut down government over policy disputes because that punishes the people. This time, he did exactly that.

The real fight is over healthcare for people who are in the country illegally. Democrats deny this, claiming it’s a Republican talking point. But in the 2019 Democrat primary debates, every candidate raised a hand in support of government-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants. That is their record, whether they admit it now or not. Extending healthcare to everyone who entered under Biden would cost trillions more dollars at a time when we are already over thirty-seven trillion dollars in debt. That is not reform—it is reckless and unsustainable.

A similar vote happened in March. At first, most Democrats voted against the resolution to keep the government open simply because their base refuses to support anything tied to Republicans or Trump. At the last minute, Schumer changed his vote and supported the measure, keeping government open but infuriating his own party. Members publicly criticized him, saying he was unfit to lead.

Now, with the fiscal year ending, Schumer flipped again. This time, instead of supporting the very same type of resolution, he stood firm against it and forced a shutdown. Only three Democrats were willing to break ranks.

A shutdown is not some abstract political chess move. It directly affects Americans. Federal workers are furloughed and many risk losing their jobs. White House staff have already been sent home. Medicare and Medicaid payments are delayed. TSA agents, servicemembers, border patrol, and immigration officers continue working without pay. These are real people with families and obligations, and their paychecks matter.

This shutdown did not happen because Republicans refused to govern. It happened because Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, chose to put the interests of illegal immigrants ahead of American citizens. That is the reality, and it is worth remembering when they ask you to trust them with leadership again.