GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FIASCO
A statement from Congressman August Pfluger on Wednesday stated:
“Today marks the longest government shutdown in American history – a shameful record driven by Democrat dysfunction. While I voted more than a month ago to fund the government, Democrats have weaponized this shutdown for political gain, and hardworking Americans are paying the price. Critical resources and services are drying up, our service members are being distracted from their mission, and air traffic controllers, border agents, and federal employees are working without pay. The American people deserve better than partisan games. It’s time for Democrats to end the theatrics and reopen the government. To everyone in TX-11, I am infuriated that your well-being has been jeopardized for 36 days now. I say it often, but if you are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. My offices are open and my team is ready to help.”
According to original reporting by “The Hill” online news Wednesday, the U.S. Government is likely to remain closed for the rest of the year, with the blame for that decision resting squarely on the Speaker of the House.
The Hill reports: Speaker Mike Johnson sent all House members home just before Oct. 1, placing the chamber in recess. This strategy meant that the only way for the government to avoid being shut down was for the Senate to garner the 60 votes needed to approve the “clean” continuing resolution passed by the House. Once the government shut down, the Senate was forced to vote on the resolution, with the House in recess and unable to make any amendments. To date, the Senate has held more than a dozen votes, with each falling short of the requisite 60 votes.
Deflect and Redirect
Since the shutdown began, Republican elected officials have made a concerted effort to deflect responsibility over government affairs. taking a page from the previous term’s playbook, when Donald Trump first publicly told politicians to apply the term “Democrat shutdown” to the 2018-2019 funding debacle that closed government operations.
A Dubious Milestone
As the 2025 Government Shutdown crossed the dateline, becoming longest shutdown on record, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger took to social media earlier on Wednesday to repeat his claims that the minority party in both houses of congress are responsible for disruption in regular operations.
“Today marks the longest government shutdown in HISTORY,” the congressman wrote on Facebook, “Democrats claim that they are fighting for affordable healthcare, but in reality, they are leveraging the well-being of American families, service members, and federal employees with their political theatrics.
“Let’s be clear: this shutdown could end today if Senate Democrats came to their senses and voted to reopen the government.”
Who’s Putting Party Over People?
According to Democrats in the Senate, they are holding out because their constituents can’t afford the increased health-care premiums experts expect to take effect next year without the government subsidies offered by the Affordable Care Act.
Experts say the changes in healthcare originated with the Republican Party’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which eliminated such considerations for low-income Americans.
According to news late Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration is likely to begin cancelling flights across the country because air traffic controllers are calling in sick after not being paid, while experts argue about what will be impacted next.
Social Media Pushback
Since the House recess, Rep. Pfluger has been in the district quite a bit, holding town hall meetings in several rural communities over the past few weeks, but the comment sections below his daily postings have become very active with dissenting voices from his constituents.
The first commenter on that post wrote: Bahahah, according to Trump’s rants this is a Republican shutdown, also how did last night’s elections feel?
A second commenter said: Let’s be clear. trump could end this shutdown in the next 30 minutes, but he hates the popular ACA because it was Obama’s legislation, while the next said: And you had the last 6+ years to actually pass a budget so…
Several supporters joined in the fray, voicing their support for the Majority party withholding SNAP benefits until the minority party “caves,” but detractors of this strategy outnumbered them easily.
Other comments included:
Let’s be clear: The majority should be willing to negotiate with the minority.
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Congressman aren’t you coming up to try to be re-elected?
Give the health insurance an Extension for a year and work on a plan for a year.
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Local dissenting voice, Jessie Ramón, wrote: The 2 longest shutdowns occurred during Trump terms; the most incompetent president we’ve ever had, and you voted for him 3 times.
Later in the discussion, Ramón wrote: You don’t deserve to be paid while you hold Americans hostage while dangling ACA subsidies as leverage.
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We all know the House isn’t reconvening until January, if then. No reason at all for y’all not be in session. Oh, wait… ?
Below that, Mr. Duncan installed a GIF of Jeffery Epstein with lightning shooting from his eyes.
Later in the conversation, another commenter posed: And how many days since Trump said he would release the Epstein files? I do believe that was a campaign promise of his? But those don’t mean anything to him.
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One military veteran, identified as Pro Pro, after posting a long communication about service in the armed forces, ended his first post by saying: Just maybe the clowns in DC will read this! Get their head out of their ? and work together!
Below that comment was posted: Also a military veteran here. Heartily disappointed with Congress in general.
Later, Pro Pro wrote: This is Trumps 5th year in office. The first time is the 2nd longest shut down and now this one. Seems to me the common factor is Trump. Also he is against Obamacare but has no plan to replace it or make it better.
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Let’s be clear Congressman August Pfluger, the shut down never would have happened if Republicans didn’t want to end SNAP benefits and the ACA. Your party alone is making those choices.
Congress did not provide coverage for undocumented immigrants in the ACA, EVER. Undocumented immigrants have NEVER been eligible for federal PTCs, and they cannot even buy coverage in the federal Marketplace at full cost. (This exclusion is not unique to ACA coverage.)
STOP LYING
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Listen to Trump, if the government is closed down it is because of lousy leadership by the President. Just read his statements and you will understand why the government are closed at his watch. Not only once …
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Another post quoted noted historian Heather Cox Richardson, who told her readers:
“Just a reminder: What the Senate Democrats are insisting on before agreeing to a continuing resolution is the extension of the premium tax credits that support the Affordable Care Act healthcare insurance marketplace. The Republicans neglected to extend those credits in their July budget reconciliation bill—the one they call the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—although they extended tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. Without the credits, millions of people will be unable to afford healthcare insurance and will go uncovered, and coverage costs will skyrocket for millions more.
Seventy-eight percent of Americans want those tax credits extended. That includes 59% of Republicans. Only 22% don’t want them extended.
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So, Trump is refusing even to negotiate with Democrats to end the shutdown when almost 80% of Americans want what the Democrats are demanding.”
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Open the government and then start working on these things. If Senate Dem’s would pass the CR, there wouldn’t be any of the drama that is unfolding now. The only thing that would be happening is a debate over whether the Obamacare tax shuffle would be continued. But no, they want to hold Americans hostage in order to get their massive $1.7 Trillion spending increases passed.
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One would have thought after the massive referendum that was the election results last night that you’d take a minute today to reassess your tactics. I guess it was too much to expect for you to think for one second out of your own brain instead of just parroting Trump. We the people overwhelmingly support extending the ACA tax credits which is exactly what Democrats are demanding in order to approve the budget. I’d suggest you reconsider who you support, your constituents or Trump, before your next election.
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House republicans have worked 12 of the last 93 days and still draw a paycheck. They are special. Democrats refuse to let MAGA strip food and healthcare from the most vulnerable among us.
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They abandoned affordable healthcare which contributes to the well-being of American families. This isn’t theatrics. It’s what 70+% of Americans support. Republicans are losing credibility and support. Tuesday was a message. For the sake of our country, hear it and act.
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GRANTIFA leader Sandra Moran Chapman wrote:
Republicans are grappling with public polls showing the public places more blame on them, rather than the Democrats, for the shutdown, even as they argue they have the moral high ground in the shutdown fight.
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Another mindless an spinless republican that follows the directions from a weak president that has more allowed the 2 longest shut downs in history!!!
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Weaponizing both hungry children AND healthcare….that is on Republicans currently in Congress. And you all continue to get paid AND have healthcare. Interesting political
perspective to keep blaming it on the Democratic Party.
Supporters Want Pfluger to Hold Out
Jen Millican White wrote:
August, I don’t typically respond, but I felt led to do so. My husband works at Goodfellow AFB, and we are greatly affected by this shut down. Am I concerned? Yes. Are things financially tight? Sure. Do I want the Republicans to back down? ABSOLUTELY NOT. This is a temporary set back, for a more long term problem. I am tired of the money we work so hard for going to the democratic party’s lunacy. Please continue to fight for these ideals, because if we back down, this struggle will be in vain. As to the naysayers and nonsensical hatemongers, I would simply add, in words of the great William Shakespeare,” I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.”
Hold your ground!!!
Now is the time to make everyone reapply and prove citizenship along with pass of drug test, then give them benefits!!!
Bob Samm was not at all subtle about expressing his considered opinion.
While democrats vote to make goat sodomy great, republicans have voted to end the Schumer shutdown 14 times. This morning, post election of course, goat lover Schumer has said he is ready to talk. No talk. Sign or suffer.
Congressman on the News
Congressman Pfluger’s press release late Wednesday went over talking points he is working to reinforce.
According to Communications Director Bethany Holden:
On day one of the shutdown, Congressman Pfluger launched an FAQ page on his website to serve as a resource for constituents impacted by the shutdown.
Congressman Pfluger has also hosted town halls in Garden City, Brownwood, Llano, and Mason to hear directly from constituents, honor local leaders, and take questions during the shutdown. The message was clear from Texans at each town hall: Democrats must quit the political theatrics and open the government.
Congressman Pflguer also convened local officials, financial institutions, and service organizations in San Angelo for a roundtable to discuss financial assistance programs available to help individuals impacted by the government shutdown. During the roundtable and following press conference, banks announced 0% interest loans, United Way announced they are providing gift cards, gas cards, energy assistance programs, clothing assistance programs, food assistance programs, and more, and the City of San Angelo announced plans to extend bill payments for anyone experiencing financial uncertainty because of the shutdown.
Additionally, in his weekly newsletter, the Pfluger Fly-By, Congressman Pfluger has highlighted the work he has been doing week by week despite the shutdown. He has also continually shared updated resources for his constituents. In the most recent Fly-By, Congressman Pfluger addressed SNAP benefits being threatened for thousands of vulnerable Americans and provided addresses for local food banks throughout his district for people in need. A copy of the most recent newsletter can be found HERE.
ICYMI: Congressman Pfluger has been delivering his message on the Democrats’ shutdown to constituents on media platforms throughout TX-11 and across America
Within the first week of the shutdown, Congressman Pfluger joined the KXYL Morning Show in Brownwood with Celinda Hawkins and JR Williams, the KWEL Morning Show in Midland with Craig Anderson, and the KOXE Morning Show in Brownwood with Jeff Duncan. He also joined CBS7 and Newswest 9 in Odessa. A recap of these interviews can be found HERE.
Congressman Pfluger later joined Big Country Politics with Manny Diaz, again on the KWEL Morning Show in Midland with Craig Anderson, and Mornings with Maria on Fox Business. He also sat down with Ruth Campbell from the Odessa American and joined Fox West Texas in San Angelo. A recap of these interviews can be found HERE.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01) also joined Congressman Pfluger on KWEL 1070.
Congressman Pfluger joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Leadership members in a press conference on day 28 of the Democrats’ reckless government shutdown. A summary and copy of Congressman Pfluger’s remarks can be found HERE.
Congressman Plfuger also joined the RSC’s ‘Right to the Point’ Podcast with Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise. The episode can be found HERE.
He has also joined Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio, Ben Shapiro on the Daily Wire, Trey Gowdy on Sunday Night in America on Fox News, and more.
