U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, criticized Senate Democrats for what he described as a “cruel and heartless” government shutdown that has lasted 38 days, the longest in U.S. history.
In remarks delivered on November 7, 2025, Barrasso highlighted the impact of the shutdown on various groups across the country. He cited examples such as soldiers at Fort Benning in Georgia working without pay, a single mother in Michigan struggling to provide for her children, and Capitol Police officers facing financial difficulties due to unpaid wages.
Barrasso referenced comments made by Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) during an interview with Punchbowl News: “In an interview just yesterday with Punchbowl News, Senator Murphy said reopening the government would do ‘substantial damage’ to Democrats’ ‘brand.’ There you have it. Functioning government is bad for the ‘brand.’”
He further stated: “Each and every one of these people are being hurt by the Schumer Shutdown. Every day gets worse for them. Yet Senator Schumer has bragged to the press, ‘Every day gets better for us.’ Who is the us? It certainly is not the people whose flights were grounded all across the country today.”
Barrasso noted that flight reductions had been ordered by the FAA at major airports nationwide due to safety concerns during the shutdown. He relayed that an FAA Administrator with decades of experience described this situation as unprecedented and warned about its risks.
He also quoted a Democratic staffer who reportedly said Democrats would not reopen the government unless “planes are falling out of the sky,” suggesting that some were waiting for disaster before taking action.
“Let’s call this Democrat Shutdown what it is. It’s cruel. It’s heartless,” Barrasso said.
He pointed out that some Democratic staffers have acknowledged there is no plan among far-left members to end the shutdown and admitted families least able to afford it are being hardest hit.
Barrasso called on Democrats to support a bipartisan continuing resolution paired with three full-year appropriation bills already negotiated between both chambers and parties. According to him, these measures would fund veterans’ care, Capitol Police, and food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC.
“This is a reasonable deal. A responsible deal. A deal Democrats earlier this week asked Republicans to put on the Floor. If it passes, the Schumer Shutdown ends quickly. 13,000 air traffic controllers get paid. 50,000 TSA agents get paid. 1.3 million military members get paid. Food assistance for 42 million Americans gets fully funded. Flights get restored. The government reopens.”
Barrasso concluded by stating: “A NO vote means Democrats get to continue to play their dangerous game of the politics of pain… There’s no excuse – none – for voting NO.”
He urged his colleagues not to use Americans as political leverage or claim principle while millions continue to face hardship due to lack of government funding.
The senator ended his remarks saying: “The American people are watching. They’re watching to see who is fighting for them and who is simply using them as leverage.”
