Congresswoman Houchin reacts to government shutdown

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congresswoman Eric Houchin is blaming partisan politics for the government shutdown that started Tuesday morning. 

The shutdown was looming for several weeks as Congressional Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on funding terms for the government’s 2026 fiscal year.

Rep. Houchin released a statement claiming that the Republicans did their part to fund the government, however Democrats refused. 

“They are demanding $1.5 trillion in far-left partisan spending in exchange for funding the standard operations of government for four weeks. Their demands include health care for illegal immigrants, millions to fund biased public media, extending COVID-era Obamacare subsidies and they even want to cut $50 billion in rural health care funding,” Rep. Houchin said. 

The shutdown affects park rangers, food inspectors and millions of federal workers throughout the nation. 

“The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one held hostage by political games. Unfortunately, Democrats have chosen partisanship over a clean short-term funding bill, forcing a government shutdown that will hurt families, service members, and communities across the country,” Houchin said. 

She added, “Democrats supported 13 clean CRs before, but now they’ve forced a shutdown to appease their far-left base and push a trillion-dollar liberal wish list.”

Houchin said her office remains open and can be reached by calling  (202) 225-5315, or our district office in Salem at (812) 288-3999.