Front of the Capitol building

Feenstra and Iowa Delegation Demand Schumer End Democrat Shutdown

October 20, 2025
Press Release

HULL, IOWA – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) joined his Iowa colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a letter to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging immediate passage of the clean Continuing Resolution (CR) that House Republicans passed in September.

“In September, Republicans did our job and voted to keep the government open for Iowans. Unfortunately, Democrats chose to play politics and shut the government down because they won’t budge on giving free healthcare to illegal immigrants and adding $1.5 trillion to our $37-trillion debt. Their recklessness put pay for our troops and WIC payments at risk, and continues to hurt our farmers, seniors, veterans, and small businesses,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m glad to join forces with my Iowa colleagues demanding that Senator Schumer and the Democrats end their government shutdown. Again, the Democrats are hurting Iowa families all to give free healthcare to illegal immigrants and put our country deeper into debt.”

The letter outlines the growing consequences of the prolonged government shutdown for Iowa’s families, farmers, veterans, and service members:

  • Over 18,000 federal employees in Iowa are either furloughed or working without pay, including nearly 10,000 Iowa National Guard troops, 1,800 of whom are serving overseas.
  • 62,000 women and children who rely on nutrition programs face service disruptions.
  • 267,000 Iowans on SNAP, including more than 100,000 children, could soon see delayed benefits.
  • Thousands of Iowa farmers cannot access USDA offices for critical support.
  • 680,000 Medicare beneficiaries risk losing access to telehealth services, while rural hospitals face funding shortfalls.

The Iowa delegation’s letter to Schumer emphasizes that this shutdown is “inflicting real harm on the people of Iowa: women, children, farmers, veterans, seniors, and service members.” The letter calls on Schumer to “set aside partisanship, put the American people first, and vote to immediately reopen the government.”

House Republicans’ clean, seven-week CR would fund the government at current levels, allowing Congress time to complete the appropriations process and cut wasteful spending from the federal budget while preventing unnecessary disruptions to essential programs.

The full letter can be found HERE.

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