A Democrat Government Shutdown Would Harm the People They Claim to Care About

Congressional Democrats appear prepared to shut down the government before some of them jet off to California for a wine-fueled Napa retreat to fundraise.

While Democrats in Congress claim to be advocates for government workers, a government shutdown would potentially furlough thousands of government employees who would not receive pay for the duration of the shutdown. Federal workers receive back pay after the shutdown ends, however.

During the last government funding fight in March, Democrats tried to weaponize the potential harm done to federal workers against Republicans. “A shutdown would enable Donald Trump and Elon Musk to unilaterally determine that the vast majority of federal workers are not essential. And given the number of federal workers in Hawaii, mass furloughs would be deeply painful for people across the state,” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, claimed at the time.

Democrats are now downplaying the arguments they’ve previously made about the harm government shutdowns do to federal workers and government operations. For example, a 2023 study published in Governance, an international journal of policy, administration, and institutions, found that the 2013 government shutdown hurt federal worker morale.

The study also concluded that federal workers who faced government shutdowns were “more likely to experience administrative dysfunction–such as unmanageable workloads, missed deadlines, poorer customer service, and abandoned projects,” according to a report published on the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy’s website.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has indicated that it would take the opportunity of a government shutdown to consider reducing the size of the federal workforce.

“[A]gencies are directed to use this opportunity to consider Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects, or activities (PPAs) that satisfy all three of the following conditions: (1) discretionary funding lapses on October 1, 2025; (2) another source of funding, such as H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) is not currently available; and (3) the PPA is not consistent with the President’s priorities,” a memo sent last week by the Office of Management and Budget, which has oversight over the federal bureaucracy, stated.

Several professional organizations have also called on Congress to pass a continuing resolution.

“We are asking—urging—Congress to not leave millions of patients and beleaguered healthcare providers dangling on the telehealth cliff while they deliberate over dynamics around a government shutdown,” Kyle Zebley, the executive director at ATA Action and senior vice president of public policy at the American Telemedicine Association, said in a statement. 

“We appreciate that both the House and Senate have been working hard to advance a short-term funding bill. But with Congress out of session this week and not returning until September 29, that leaves only one day before the telehealth flexibilities expire,” Zebley continued.

The Independent Women’s Forum, a conservative nonprofit, has also urged Congress to avert a government shutdown.

“This clean continuing resolution is a necessary step to keeping the government running even as Congress does the good work to pass responsible appropriations bills through regular order. Americans did not vote for a dysfunctional government. They want a right-sized government, and so far, this Congress has taken that mandate seriously,” the organization stated.

“Furthermore, in light of the horrendous slaying of Charlie Kirk, this CR provides members of Congress with additional protections so that they can serve their constituents. We urge all members to pass this clean CR to prevent disruptions to national security, public safety, veterans care, and social safety net programs while bringing back fiscal responsibility,” the group continued.

A government shutdown would also affect the public’s access to certain facilities. It would temporarily end access by the public to the Smithsonian Institution museums and the National Zoo. Tours at the U.S. Capitol would also be paused. Access to the national parks might also be limited for the duration of the shutdown.

While federal workers would be furloughed and the American public locked out of federal museums and historic sites, Senate Democrats are planning a retreat to California wine country.

An invitation to the event described the political conference taking place at Hotel Yountville, a California resort and spa, on Oct. 13 and 14 and hosted by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md. According to the itinerary, the retreat would feature a wine tour at Staglin Family Vineyard. The event prompted Graham Platner, who is running as a Democrat to oust Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, from her Senate seat, to write on X, “I promise you I will not be attending any DSCC fundraising events in a wine cave in California.”

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