Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Local Congresswoman Blames GOP as Federal Shutdown Impacts Nation

Congresswoman Judy Chu

Judy Chu calls out Republican leadership as federal closure disrupts services and raises health care stakes

Judy Chu criticized Congressional Republicans for triggering a federal government shutdown, urging GOP leaders to consider the health and economic security of Americans. The shutdown, the first in nearly seven years, resulted from a deadlock over health care funding, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed.

“Republicans own this shutdown. They control the House, the Senate, and the White House and yet they chose to shut down the government rather than protect affordable health care for millions of Americans,” Chu said in a statement.

“After forcing through a partisan spending bill that failed in the Senate, Republicans then blocked House Democrats from bringing up a commonsense bill that would have kept the government open, canceled health care cuts, lowered out-of-pocket costs, and protected the affordable care that working families rely on.”

“This shutdown makes Donald Trump and Republicans’ priorities clear. First, they passed their Big Ugly Law, which ripped $1.5 trillion out of our health care system, kicked 15 million Americans off their insurance, slashed Medicare and Medicaid, and weakened the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—all to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires. Now, with 24 million Americans facing premium hikes of up to 114 percent, Republicans left town and shut down the government. This is a failure of leadership and a despicable betrayal of working Americans who depend on ACA tax credits to afford health care.”

Chu warned that “in my district alone, more than 61,000 people will see their premiums skyrocket if these tax credits expire, and nearly 40,000 people will lose coverage altogether because of Republicans’ combined cuts to Medicaid and the ACA.”

She also noted the added strain of “Trump’s reckless tariffs.”

While essential federal services like Social Security, Medicare, law enforcement, and military operations remain active, travel delays are expected. Air travel may be disrupted and delays in passport processing and WIC nutrition support are likely. National parks are staying open but with limited staffing.

The Trump administration suggested using the shutdown for potential permanent staff reductions, a departure from previous closures.

Chu underscored her caucus’s readiness to negotiate: “My Democratic colleagues and I remain ready to work across the aisle to reopen the government, lower health costs, and protect families. But we will not enable more chaos, destruction, and giveaways to the wealthy at the expense of the American people.”

She urged constituents: “During this unsettled time, I urge constituents to visit my website chu.house.gov/shutdown for resources and updates. My office is here to help answer questions and provide assistance.”