An important update on the federal government shutdown and how you might be impacted.

Dear John,

The federal government remains in a shutdown because its funding, or appropriations, ran out at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025.

Back on September 19, 2025, House Republicans and I passed a clean, nonpartisan, short-term funding bill that would keep the government open through November 21, 2025, while we complete work on our annual appropriations bills that are being negotiated in a bipartisan manner.

That House-passed short-term funding bill must also be approved by the Senate to keep the government open. Under Senate rules, 60 votes are required to pass the bill, which means it will require bipartisan support since there are currently only 53 Republicans in the Senate. Unfortunately, all but three Democrats in the Senate continue to oppose and vote against the funding bill. As a result, the federal government remains shutdown.

There are a number of negative impacts from a shutdown that hurt Americans and their families. That’s why I voted to keep the government open and have urged my colleagues to keep the government funded while we complete our bipartisan negotiations on our annual appropriations bills. During a shutdown our federal workers do not receive a paycheck – including our troops. Many federal activities and agencies have been able to continue providing services using previously appropriated funds, however, the longer this shutdown lasts the more likely it is that those funds will be exhausted, and services curtailed.

I will continue working and talking to my colleagues about why it is so important for us to end the shutdown and get on with the important work before us to help American families.

Sincerely,

KEN CALVERT

Member of Congress

P.S. Despite the federal government shutdown, my offices in Washington, D.C., Corona, and Palm Desert remain open and my staff stands ready to assist you with any issues you may have with a federal agency.

This week, I cosponsored a bill that would ensure our troops are paid during a shutdown. I will always make the pay and welfare of our troops a top priority as Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Committee. We can have policy and political fights in Congress, but we simply can’t ask service members to put themselves in harm’s way without paying them. It should be a red line for anyone who cares about our national security and our troops.

As soon as all but three Democrats in the Senate voted against the House-passed funding bill and the government shutdown last week, I asked that my pay be withheld until their shutdown is over. Members of Congress shouldn't get a paycheck if our troops aren't getting paid, food assistance is running out, and our federal government is shutdown.

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