The Senate will take its 14th procedural vote today to advance the House-passed continuing resolution to end the government shutdown at 11:30 a.m. The Senate also will hold its weekly policy lunch from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m.
When the federal government shuts down, it affects thousands of workers — not just in Washington, DC, but in every U.S. state and territory — from air traffic controllers who approve flights at every major airport to staff at the Office of Civil Rights who investigate sexual assault allegations on college campuses. The majority of these workers have been told to continue working without pay. This puts their health and well-being at risk, as they have to delay or cancel bills or make difficult choices between paying the mortgage or their utilities or buying food. And it takes a toll on morale, because for the vast majority of federal employees, the work they do matters.
Shutdowns can also disrupt essential programs that help families survive, including SNAP, WIC, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. These programs should never be politicized, and we can’t tolerate another wave of political brinksmanship that brings the country to the edge of chaos. When federal workers and their families are standing in line for food banks after missing a paycheck, they don’t want partisan spin, they need the wages they earned. It’s time for Congress to do its job and reopen the government immediately.