Previously Published in The Messenger
By Nick LaLota
For years, leaders in both parties have acknowledged that government shutdowns are reckless, put millions at risk, and waste valuable time Congress should spend doing the people’s work. They were right. Using a shutdown as a bargaining chip hurts ordinary Americans and undermines our national security.
That’s why in both 2023 and 2024—despite strong disagreements with President Biden’s border policies—I refused to use a shutdown to fight that battle. Along with other responsible Republicans, I voted to keep the government open because we knew who would suffer if we didn’t: our troops, our veterans, and the 31,000 federal employees on Long Island who provide critical services. Policy fights belong in the legislative and electoral arenas—not on the backs of families and federal workers.
Now, in 2025, some in Congress are taking the opposite approach. Last week, Democrats rejected a clean, 52-day funding bill that carried no partisan riders and simply extended existing Biden-era spending. With 60 votes required in the Senate and only 53 Republican Senators, both parties must act responsibly to keep the government funded. Instead, Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer have admitted they will block status-quo funding until Republicans agree to restore healthcare subsidies for non-citizens.
The consequences for Long Island would be severe. At Brookhaven National Lab, 3,000 scientists and engineers could see their work disrupted. A shutdown would risk leaving troops, air traffic controllers, and tens of thousands of federal workers without pay—creating real hardship for families and delays in air travel. Services at the Northport VA Medical Center, relied on by thousands of Veterans, could be interrupted. Seniors might still receive Social Security checks, but they would face delays in local services, threats to nutrition programs, and weaker oversight of nursing homes.
The American people deserve better. Shutdowns should never be used as a partisan tool.
Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point) represents the 1st Congressional District.