Dear John,

We are now on Day 17 of the Schumer Shutdown, and the consequences of this political gridlock are growing more serious for families across Northwest Florida and the nation. Earlier this week, I was at my district office at Pensacola State College, where I met with members of the media to assess the impact of the shutdown on Florida’s First Congressional District, especially our military installations and the brave men and women who serve there. Just yesterday, I had the honor of visiting Hurlburt Field, where I spoke directly with servicemen and women about the strain this shutdown is placing on their lives, families, and missions.

While President Trump has taken action to protect our troops, many essential services are still being furloughed, including the contractors who provide critical support to our military. Between Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base, more than 13,000 contractors work side by side with our military each day, and these contracts, and the people behind them, are increasingly at risk.

All the while, Senate Democrats continue political theater while real people suffer, the kind who wake up every day, work hard, and faithfully serve our country. They deserve better than failed Washington leadership and partisan dysfunction. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a temporary measure has been put in place to ensure that our troops get paid for now, but make no mistake, this is not a permanent solution.

Let’s be honest, Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are not prioritizing our military. They seem more interested in raising campaign dollars off frozen paychecks than protecting those who defend our freedoms. That’s not leadership, it’s despicable, and every American has a right to be outraged by it.

Here are the facts:
• Republicans have voted 10 times to re-open the government.
• Democrats have voted 10 times to keep it closed.

Democrats have made it clear, they’d rather prioritize illegal immigrants over American service members. They claim it’s unlawful for the President to pay our troops, yet all they need to do is pass the Continuing Resolution (CR) they’ve supported 13 times before. If they did, our troops wouldn’t be in limbo. After this initial temporary payment, more than 2 million U.S. service members will go unpaid if this continues. That is unacceptable. It threatens our national security, damages morale, and undermines military readiness.

Our troops and their families sacrifice enough. They shouldn’t have to sacrifice their paychecks because of Washington’s dysfunction. I’ll continue fighting for them, and for all hardworking Americans, until this shameful shutdown ends.

Please know that throughout this shutdown, my Washington, Crestview, and Pensacola offices remain open, and we will continue serving our constituents as we always have.

Sincerely,

Beware of Hate America Parade

On Friday, Congressman Patronis held a virtual press conference urging Floridians to avoid traveling to Washington, D.C., for the “No Kings Day” protests. With demonstrations planned in cities across the country, he warned that these events could draw pro-Hamas and Antifa protestors who seek to spread hate, promote anti-Israel rhetoric, and create disorder. These demonstrations pose a public safety risk and serve as little more than “Hate America Parades” designed to fuel division and distract from the ongoing Schumer Shutdown. Watch the travel advisory here HERE. 

Hurlburt Field Tour

On Thursday, I had the honor of touring Hurlburt Field, home to Air Force Special Operations Command. During my visit, I toured the base flight line and saw the MC-130 and AC-26 aircraft up close. These aircraft are vital to our national defense, supporting special operations missions that deliver airlift, precision strike, and support capabilities for some of America’s most demanding missions. I also met with senior leadership, service members, and civilian personnel to discuss key priorities such as base housing, childcare, traffic, and mental health, as well as how the ongoing shutdown is affecting their operations and families. Thanks to President Trump’s swift leadership, troops and their families received their October 15th paychecks, preventing an immediate disruption in income during the shutdown.