Dear John,
As you may have seen, the federal government shut down on October 1st. I voted to prevent a government shutdown so that critical services like VA and Social Security benefits continue and so our federal workers, including our troops and Air Traffic Controllers, get paid on time and without delay. Make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get updates from me directly.
If you have any questions about how a government shutdown affects you, visit my website for a list of resources, or contact my offices that remain open during the shutdown.
Today, I published an op-ed highlighting how the government shutdown will hurt Ohioans. Read it here or by scrolling down!
Title: A Government Shutdown Hurts Ohioans
Author: Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15)
Date: October 22, 2025
On September 19th, I voted to prevent a government shutdown. Unfortunately, not enough Senate Democrats joined Senate Republicans to clear the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate, and we entered into the government shutdown on October 1 that remains ongoing.
It didn’t need to be this way. As you may know, Congress passes bills to spend money on federal programs every year. This includes funding for critical services like the military and Air Traffic Controllers, as well as funding grants for projects for things like energy, clean water, and infrastructure here in Central Ohio.
When Congress appropriates money for the fiscal year, it ends on September 30th. If Republicans and Democrats are unable to pass bipartisan bills to keep the federal government funded or a continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily extend current funding while negotiations continue, the government shuts down.
Typically, if a fiscal deadline approaches before a bipartisan, full funding deal is reached, Republicans and Democrats work together to pass what we call a “clean CR.” A clean CR means we simply extend funding levels into the future with no partisan policy demands attached as a sign of good-faith negotiations between both Democrats and Republicans.
This has been the standard way we avoid a government shutdown, and one I was proud to support. Under the previous administration, Congress passed 13 bipartisan, clean CRs to prevent government shutdowns.
I, along with House and Senate Republicans, voted for a clean CR to fund the government through November 21 so that we can keep negotiating a full budget with our Democrat colleagues. However, Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, in the Senate have blocked our proposal which forced the government shutdown that we are still experiencing.
This leaves Ohio’s 15th District and our nation as a whole in a precarious position.
While the government is shut down, federal workers go without pay or get furloughed entirely, meaning their families see bills stack up with no way to pay them. This includes the soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect America. A shutdown isn’t fair to them, and it’s not good for anyone.
A shutdown can result in shortages of critical services, like TSA agents and Air Traffic Controllers at airports across the country. That means longer waits in line, as well as more frequent delays and cancelled flights.
If employees at agencies are furloughed, the understaffing results in delays in services that Americans rely on. Social Security checks, VA benefits, and Medicare assistance can all be delayed. That is a big reason why I voted to prevent a shutdown: it’s not a burden Ohioans should have to bear.
And these problems aren’t exclusive to Ohio. Right now, it’s hurricane season and FEMA is furloughing employees due to the government shutdown. We saw the devastation left by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina last year and the thousands of families who lost everything. Imagine what would happen if FEMA wasn’t on the ground to help because of a government shutdown.
The fact of the matter is this: House Republicans voted to keep the government open with a clean CR on September 19. Since then, Senate Democrats have blocked that same clean bill 11 times. The same bill passed 13 times under the previous administration.
I understand that my Democrat colleagues, many of whom I call friends, have various policy concerns that they want to address. I understand their desire to debate the issues, and I am happy to engage in good faith; however, I am not willing to withhold paychecks from our troops and the services my constituents count on in order to restart policy discussions.
I want to reopen the government as soon as possible so federal workers can get paid, Americans receive the benefits they’ve earned on time and without delay, and Congress can get back to doing the work our constituents sent us to Washington to do for them.
Congressman Mike Carey represents Ohio’s Fifteenth Congressional District, serving communities in Franklin, Fayette, Clark, Madison, Shelby, and Miami counties. Congressman Carey is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, the House Budget Committee, and House Committee on Administration. During the government shutdown, Rep. Carey’s offices in Columbus (614-927-6902) and Washington, D.C. (202-225-2015) remain open to respond to constituent concerns and his website is monitored regularly.
Staying in Touch:
It is a privilege to serve Ohio in Congress, and I want to make sure you can keep up with all the news here in Washington. If you haven’t already, follow me on X, Facebook, and YouTube for updates on my work for Ohio’s 15th District, visit my website to see what services my office offers, and please share this newsletter with a friend and encourage them to sign up here for regular updates. If you have a problem we can solve or a question you’d like answered, feel free to call my office at 202-225-2015 (Washington D.C.) or 614-927-6902 (Columbus).
