Majority Leader | Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSR...Skip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNE×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUFacebookXInstagramFacebookXInstagramVisit Leader Thune's South Dakota Site Here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board09.19.25Democrat Senators Prepare to Unleash “Pain” on Their Own StatesIn Democrats’ Own Words, A Government Shutdown Would Wreck Their Home States. “EVERY CORNER” OF NEW YORK WOULD HURT IN A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNTwo years ago, Leader Schumer warned that a government shutdown would cause “disruptions for millions of New Yorkers to services they rely on, while thousands of federal workers could be furloughed:”“[I]t will be New Yorkers and families across America paying the price.”A “shutdown is avoidable, irresponsible and deeply damaging”“Schumer said according to Congressional Research Services, over 50,000 federal civilian employees currently reside in New York, on top of thousands of military servicemembers who live and work on military installations across the state… These New Yorkers will feel the impacts of a shutdown immediately, with many working in departments or agencies that will close as soon as the government shuts down. The senator cited specific agencies—that because of the shutdown—would not be able to serve New Yorkers as they should.”2023: “Schumer detailed the specific ways a government shutdown will hurt New York:”“Servicemembers On NY Military Installations Will Work Without Pay, While Civilian Employees On Bases Will Be Furloughed”“No Pay For TSA Agents, Potential Delays, And Longer Wait Times For NY Travelers At Airports”“Over 418,000 NY Women, Infants, And Children Could Lose Access To Vital Nutrition Assistance”“Nearly 2.9 Million NY Households At Risk Of Losing SNAP Benefits”“Disruption to Proposed Major NY Investments and Jobs”“NY Infrastructure Projects Could Be Delayed Awaiting Federal Review”“Severely Limited Childcare Services And Elective Healthcare On Military Installations”“Millions In Loans Halted For New York Small Business Owners”“NY Farmers Left High And Dry”“Slashed Tourism Across New York’s National Parks and Historic Sites”“Significantly Limited Housing Assistance for NY Families” (Sen. Schumer: SCHUMER: Government shutdown would hurt every corner of New York State; Senator calls on Congress to pass bipartisan agreement to keep government open and breaks down impact a House Republican-caused shutdown would have on families, local economy & NY’s federal workforce throughout the Empire State – 9/28/23)(CBS New York: Government shutdown would have "devastating" effect in Tri-State Area, from airport closures to missed federal aid checks – 9/28/23)But now Schumer is content with plunging the country into a government shutdown:Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): “Why would you go forward with [the appropriations] process if they’re going to undo it anyway?”Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman: “Well, that’s a good question, but that means there’s going to be an interminable government shutdown.”Schumer: “We believe the American people will understand that they are causing a shutdown, again, by not being [bipartisan], by not wanting to do anything on health care at all, and by Trump.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Inside Schumer's shutdown strategy – 9/19/25)CONNECTICUT WOULD FACE “DEEP AND DEVASTATING” IMPACTSIn 2023, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said a “federal government shutdown would have a deep and devastating impact on Connecticut.” (WSHU: Blumenthal, Murphy prepare for looming government shutdown – 9/29/23)“A shutdown would not only result in about 8,000 federal workers in Connecticut going without pay, it would affect the defense industry which is a big part of the state’s economy, and many state residents.” (WSHU: Blumenthal, Murphy prepare for looming government shutdown – 9/29/23)“Murphy said the shutdown would also immediately affect programs utilized by about 50,000 Connecticut residents including about 5,000 families with children in the federally subsidized Head Start program.” (WSHU: Blumenthal, Murphy prepare for looming government shutdown – 9/29/23)“So that's going to put a whole bunch of low-income families in Connecticut in an awful position. So there is no reason to shut the government down.” – Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) (9/29/23)During the 2019 government shutdown, Sen. Murphy shared letters from constituents affected by the shutdown:“On the Senator’s Facebook, Murphy read the messages on Facebook Live, including one from Courtney of Northford who comes from a Coast Guard family. ‘Because of the shutdown, she is unable to pay for gas to get her special needs kids to their appointments and to pick up their medication,’ Murphy says.” (WTNH News 8: Senator Chris Murphy shares letters, e-mails from those affected by government shutdown – 1/10/19)“This is from James, a State Department employee who is currently assigned overseas in Afghanistan: ‘I am considered an essential employee and am currently working in excess of 50 hours a week with no pay, furthering US policy goals in Afghanistan. I am concerned that I will not be able to make my mortgage payments, and that our credit card bills are going to skyrocket for daily living expenses. I also had to defer my son’s tuition payment.’” (WTNH News 8: Senator Chris Murphy shares letters, e-mails from those affected by government shutdown – 1/10/19)“Murphy says about 1,500 federal employees in Connecticut are either furloughed or working without pay.” (WTNH News 8: Senator Chris Murphy shares letters, e-mails from those affected by government shutdown – 1/10/19)“There is a time and a place to debate health care, just like there is a time and place to debate energy policy and immigration and education—but not when the funding of the federal government, and all the lives that are impacted by it, hang in the balance.” – Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) (9/27/13)But now? “Murphy has made surprising moves over the last month to protest bipartisan government funding talks as a member of the Appropriations Committee, demonstrating his vision of what opposition to President Donald Trump should look like and further stoking speculation about his own presidential ambitions.” (Politico: Chris Murphy goes all in on funding bill boycott as Dems seek bipartisanship – 8/13/25)“Every single day, there’s new evidence that our democracy is falling, and you’ve got to take stands. You have to take fights.” – Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)IN HAWAII, A SHUTDOWN WOULD CAUSE “THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES”In 2019, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) “highlighted the negative impacts of the shutdown, including the harm to Hawai‘i’s federal workers, the economy and our national security.” (Big Island Now: Sen. Schatz: ‘People Are Suffering, We Must Reopen The Government’ – 1/24/19)“First, federal workers are in food lines. Hundreds of thousands of people who work for the government are either furloughed or working without pay.”“I’ve met people working in airport security who can’t concentrate. They can’t sleep. Because they can’t stop worrying about how to pay their bills.”“I’ve met government workers in the midst of applying for food stamps, and asking local charities for help.”“I met a single mom who has spent her career working hard to build a life for her family. She told me that, without these paychecks, it’s all going backwards.”“This is the third failure: while rich people are protected, this shutdown leaves the people who are most vulnerable to fend for themselves.” – Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) (1/24/19)In 2023, Sen. Schatz said, “I’ve seen the same thing, over and over again. Shutdowns don’t work the government eventually reopens and neither side has accomplished a single thing, no one wins but Americans have a lot to lose.” (KHON2: Local businesses could feel impacts from a government shutdown – accessed 9/10/25)But now? “Sen. Brian Schatz — expected to be the No. 2 Senate Democrat in the next Congress — was one of the ten lawmakers to vote against a shutdown [in March]. But now he's showing a change in tune.” (Politico: Dems dig in against the GOP CR – 9/17/25)WASHINGTON STATE WOULD “FEEL THE PAIN”In 2023, Sen. Murray said Washingtonians do not want a government shutdown: “Like all of my colleagues, I have been back home with my constituents—talking about their concerns and their priorities. And let me tell you: they do not want to spend the next month wondering if Congress is going to fulfill its most basic obligation and fund the government!” (Sen. Murray: Senator Murray Remarks on Funding the Government and Avoiding an Unnecessary Shutdown – 9/6/23)Murray warned that if there was a shutdown, “families and communities in Washington state and everywhere in our country are going to feel the pain.” (The Center Square: Sen. Murray touts resolution to avoid government shutdown – 9/29/23)“In Washington state, Murray said, more than 54,500 federal workers and 62,100 military personnel will be furloughed or forced to work without pay if the government shuts down. That includes 327 air traffic controllers and 1,326 officers with the Transportation Security Administration working at airports in the state, likely leading to staffing shortages, longer lines, and traveler delays.” (The Center Square: Sen. Murray touts resolution to avoid government shutdown – 9/29/23)“Murray said a shutdown would also delay federal funding for a variety of other domestic programs and projects, including Head Start preschools, pay for wildland firefighters and military border officers, long-term disaster recovery projects, and loans to businesses and farmers while proving ‘devastating to the economy’ and jeopardizing the nation’s credit rating.” (The Center Square: Sen. Murray touts resolution to avoid government shutdown – 9/29/23)“Look, people in Washington state do not want chaos… They do not want to have to worry about whether the government is going to fulfill our most basic obligation and stay open. There is no reason we shouldn’t be able to pass a CR and prevent a government shutdown. None.” – Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) (9/29/23)This year, Sen. Murray voted to shut down the government in March and is opposing a clean CR to keep the government open this Fall. (Sen. Murray: On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Urges No Vote on House Republicans’ CR – 3/14/25)IN MASSACHUSETTS, A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WILL CAUSE “RIPPLE EFFECTS” AND “PAIN”2023: “Massachusetts is expected to feel ripple effects of a possible government shutdown looming over Washington D.C.” (WBUR: Sen. Elizabeth Warren on local impacts of a possible government shutdown – 9/29/23)Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in 2023 warned about the negative effects a shutdown would have on military servicemembers, workers, and small businesses “right here in Massachusetts:”“Okay, so let's start with how much pain a government shutdown is going to cause us right here in Massachusetts.”“[W]e have about 25,000 federal workers in Massachusetts. These are public servants just trying to do their jobs, trying to help people. They have mortgages, they have childcare bills, they’ve got to put gas in the tank and food on the table, and they're not going to get their paychecks.”“Same thing for military service members. Not going to get paid until after the shutdown. And in Massachusetts, we’ve got about 3,300 people that that's going to affect.”“When you're talking about that many people not getting their paychecks, it has a lot of other effects. It has effects in restaurants, it has effects just throughout our economy. In addition to that, we got about 125,000 people, mamas and babies in Massachusetts, that get food assistance. So, this is- Come on, this is baby formula.”“Head Start centers in Massachusetts will be closed because they're funded by the federal government.”“Small business loans, any new loans that people have in, all the processing will stop. People count on those small business loans, and have made plans around that, and all of that will come to a halt.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) (9/29/23)Sen. Warren described the 2013 government shutdown as “an unnecessary, self-inflicted wound that's hurting families:” (Sen. Warren: Cape Cod Times Op-Ed: Shutdown is Bad for Massachusetts – 10/11/13) “Nearly a million federal employees were sent home for no reason, and other public servants are working but not earning a paycheck.”“In Massachusetts, 8,000 federal employees have been furloughed, and nearly 4,600 state workers whose positions are federally funded could find themselves out of work if the shutdown continues.”“Cancer patients have been turned away from clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health, and veterans' benefits are at risk.”“Basic nutrition services for pregnant women and new moms will be disrupted.”“Small businesses won't be able to get federal loan guarantees, and Social Security offices are offering limited services for seniors.”“[P]opular tourist destinations like Cape Cod National Seashore and Woods Hole Science Aquarium have been closed to the public. Many local businesses also depend on tourism, and they will be forced to take an economic hit because of the shutdown.” “The American people are tired of this government shutdown. It's past time for Congress to come together, to pass a funding resolution, and to get back to doing the work people in Massachusetts and across the country sent us here to do.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) (10/11/13)In 2019, Sen. Warren said, “Federal workers are not pawns in a political game. They should be able to do their jobs, and they should get paid to do their jobs.” (WBUR: Elizabeth Warren Meets With Federal Workers Returning To Jobs After Shutdown – 1/28/19)But now, Sen. Warren is voting against government funding bills, “signaling early hardball by Democrats:” (Politico: Elizabeth Warren vows to fight government funding bill – 7/22/25)“There’s now a different vibe on the Democratic side, people are more focused on the urgency of the fight. Democrats are sticking together.” – Sen. 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