Sen. John Barrasso, a U.S. Senator from Wyoming and the Senate Republican Conference Chairman, posted several statements on October 1, 2025, regarding the ongoing government shutdown and actions by Senate Democrats.
In a post made at 15:30 UTC, Barrasso wrote, “Under President Biden, Democrats supported a clean continuing resolution 13 times. Last night, Democrats voted to shut down the government. Either their memories are short or their principles are situational.”
Later that day at 17:13 UTC, he stated, “The Democrat plan is the shutdown plan.”
At 18:15 UTC, Barrasso added another comment: “Senate Democrats have dragged us into a #SchumerShutdown. Even though, two out of three Americans believe Democrats should NOT shut down the government. https://t.co/Yrun4YH4F6”
Barrasso’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in Congress as lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to keep the federal government funded past the deadline. In recent years, disputes over budget appropriations and policy priorities have led to several instances where temporary funding measures—known as continuing resolutions—were required to prevent shutdowns. These measures often become points of contention between parties.
The phrase “#SchumerShutdown” refers to previous instances when members of Congress attributed responsibility for government shutdowns to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his party. Public opinion polls have shown varying degrees of blame placed on both major parties during past shutdowns.
As Senate Republican Conference Chairman, Barrasso plays a leading role in shaping messaging for Senate Republicans during legislative standoffs.
