Weekly Newsletter, 10.7.25
After weeks of inaction from Congressional Republicans, funding for the federal government ran out at midnight on October 1st. We are now in Day 6 of a government shutdown, leaving 750,000 federal workers furloughed with no idea of when they’ll receive their next paycheck and millions more uncertain of what the future holds.
To see how the shutdown could impact you and find resources, FAQs and more, visit my government shutdown resources page and call my offices with any urgent concerns.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Over the past nine months, the Trump Administration has unlawfully frozen or canceled funding previously appropriated by Congress and fired hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
In March, rather than working on a bipartisan basis to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, Republicans rammed through a six-month temporary funding extension that gave the Trump Administration free reign to continue their unprecedented assault on federal government agencies and workers; betray veterans exposed to toxic substances; abandon communities devastated by natural disasters; and lay the groundwork for massive cuts to critical health care and safety net programs like Medicaid.
In July, Republicans created a looming health care crisis through draconian Medicaid cuts in the Big Ugly Law.
As health care providers close, costs rise and millions of Americans lose their health insurance amidst an already intensifying affordability crisis, Republicans have now doubled down by refusing to extend the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that expire at the end of the year, causing out-of-pocket premiums to skyrocket as much as 114%.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed openness to extending the tax credits, but insists those discussions must wait until a government funding deal passes. Speaker Johnson will not entertain any discussion until the end of the year. Unfortunately, time is running out. Open enrollment for the ACA exchange opens on November 1st, and health plans are setting premium rates for 2026 coverage now.
After ramming through their partisan resolution to kick the can down the road to November 21st, Speaker Johnson canceled votes through at least this week. So while House Democrats were in Washington ready to work, House Republicans stayed home.
On Monday, I joined the Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) and Rep. Sarah McBride (DE) for a livestream to answer viewer questions about the shutdown.
On Tuesday, while House Republicans were nowhere to be found, House Democrats stood ready to pass a funding bill that addressed this health care crisis.
While Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09) presided over a 15-minute pro forma with only one other Republican in attendance, House Democrats stood with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) as she tried to introduce a plan to keep the government open. Rep. Griffith ignored her.
As the clock raced towards midnight, I joined 12 On Your Side to discuss exactly what is at stake here — namely the high cost of living and the devastating effects of the Big Ugly Law and expiring ACA enhanced premium tax credits on our health care system.
As the clock struck midnight and we entered a government shutdown, I joined Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clark (NY-09) and fellow Executive Board members Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) on the House Democrats’ 24-hour livestream. You can watch our segment here. I put Republicans’ actions in context within their persistent campaign to assault and traumatize our federal workforce — led by Project 2025 architect and now-Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.
Hours later, I joined Rep. Becca Balint (VT) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01) on the livestream again to discuss the shutdown.
On Day 2 of the shutdown, I joined Mornings with Zerlina to discuss how we got here.
When will this madness end? Stay tuned and follow my social media accounts for updates.
MEETING WITH VIRGINIA'S FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES
When the English sailed into the Chesapeake Bay in 1607, they came ashore on land called Tsenacommacah by the Algonquin-speaking people who inhabited it. Wahunsunacock, more famously known as Chief Powhatan, ruled as the paramount chief of the more than 30 tribes that comprised the Powhatan Chiefdom. Today, the U.S. government recognizes seven Virginia tribes as self-governing nations with a government-to-government relationship managed primarily by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia through treaties with the English crown in 1646 and 1677, the Pamunkey Tribe gained federal recognition from the BIA in 2015. Gaps in official records due in part to the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 and its enforcement by Walter Plecker prevented additional Virginia tribes from meeting BIA criteria for federal recognition. The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017 granted federal recognition to the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond Tribes. I filed legislation last month to extend federal recognition to the Nottoway Tribe.
Last week, I joined the federally recognized tribes for the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium (VTEC) Annual Conference. Created in 2019, the VTEC works to build the leadership capacity of the federally recognized tribes to support academic excellence, cultural awareness and historical accuracy. During the conference, we celebrated the strength, unity and resilience of the Virginia tribes. I also discussed the impact of federal workforce and funding cuts on the tribes and how we can work together to navigate the current federal landscape.
BRIGHT SPOT: HONORING THE ENSLAVED COMMUNITY AND DESCENDANTS AT MOUNT VERNON
As the birthplace of American democracy and the American slave trade, Virginia has a complex history. For centuries, historic sites only told part of that complex story. Over the years, however, the historic homes of our nation’s founding fathers have begun telling a more complete history.
Last week, I joined George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Black Women United for Action to honor the lives and legacies of the enslaved men, women and children who lived and labored at Mount Vernon with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Slave Memorial. The ceremony provided a moment of reflection, remembrance and unity to honor the past and celebrate the enduring resilience and legacy of the 317 people enslaved at Mount Vernon at the time of George Washington’s death.
REMINDERS
Friday, October 24th is the deadline for nominations for my 2025 Veteran of the Year Program!
Thursday, October 30th is the deadline to apply for the Congressional App Challenge and for a Service Academy Nomination.
Keep the faith, friends!