U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the Senate Majority Whip, spoke on the Senate floor criticizing what he described as a “Democrat-caused shutdown” of the federal government. He accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of presenting demands that amount to a “ransom note,” stating that the situation is not about negotiation but rather a “shakedown.”
Barrasso outlined several points in his remarks, claiming that Democrats are requesting over $1 trillion in new spending to keep the government open for four weeks and seeking permanent extensions of COVID-era bonus payments. He said, “Democrats are demanding more than $1 trillion in new spending to keep the government open for just four weeks. They want permanent new spending to continue the Biden COVID bonus payments. They want sanctuary states to continue to give free healthcare to illegal immigrants. At the same time, they threaten to defund Border Patrol agents.”
He further alleged that Democrats are prioritizing funding for foreign countries while proposing cuts for rural hospitals in the United States and supporting subsidies for people who do not work. According to Barrasso, these demands constitute a “far-left wish list,” with threats of shutting down the government if their terms are not met.
A significant focus of Barrasso’s speech was on what he called “the biggest scam in this ransom note,” referring to ongoing COVID-era payments introduced during President Biden’s administration. He stated, “Democrats created the Biden Bonus COVID Payments in 2021… They set an expiration date: December 31, 2025… Now, Democrats want them forever.” He cited an official House Committee report from February 24, 2021, which described these payments as temporary measures during a public health emergency.
Barrasso also referenced actions from 2013 when Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) opposed using government funding debates as leverage over healthcare policy changes. Barrasso noted that current Democratic actions contrast with those previous statements.
The senator expressed concern about potential elimination of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, which supports community hospitals—particularly referencing his experience as a doctor and recent attendance at a hospital opening in Pinedale, Wyoming.
He concluded by urging passage of what he called a clean and bipartisan continuing resolution already approved by the House of Representatives. Barrasso stated it would fund the government for seven weeks while appropriations work continues and claimed former President Trump is prepared to sign it into law.
Barrasso criticized Schumer’s past comments about keeping government open under Democratic leadership and asserted that if a shutdown occurs now, responsibility will lie with Senate Democrats: “If this government shuts down, and it should not, it will clearly be a Schumer Shutdown.”
