McCollum Highlights How An Extreme Republican Shutdown Would Harm Families in Minnesota

With just two days remaining until a potential extreme Republican government shutdown, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) warned that House Republicans are risking serious consequences for Minnesota families: 

“I will continue doing everything in my power to keep the government open and protect Minnesota families from a costly, unnecessary government shutdown,” McCollum said. “It’s time for House Republicans to do their jobs, put American families first, and stop charging towards a government shutdown.”

“Minnesota families shouldn’t be forced to pay the price for House Republicans’ inability to govern. An extreme Republican shutdown would endanger access to food assistance for families, risk air travel disruptions for businesses and travelers, harm small businesses, and force thousands of FEMA disaster workers, FBI agents, and U.S. service members, among federal employees, to work without pay. It is unconscionable that House Republicans would hurt working families, damage our economy, and endanger our national security.”

According to new data released by House Budget Committee Democrats, a Republican government shutdown would mean:

• 108,420 people in Minnesota would soon lose access to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits. 459,439 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries in Minnesota would lose access to benefits in a prolonged shutdown.
• Workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be sidelined, risking interruptions and delays to the 382 food safety, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other inspections conducted in Minnesota last year.
• 31,731 people flying through Minnesota airports every day would face potential delays and safety concerns due to staffing impacts on TSA agents and air traffic controllers.
• The Small Business Administration would stop processing small business loans, halting a program that provides $674,093,300 in funding to small businesses in Minnesota every year.
• 20,444 federal workers in Minnesota would be furloughed or forced to work without pay, and 18,866 active duty and reserve personnel serving our nation's armed forces in Minnesota would be forced to go without the pay they earn during a shutdown.
• The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing housing loans, which provide $272,965,073 in funding to help 1,572 families in rural Minnesota communities buy homes every year.
• The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing farm loans which provide $318,894,000 in funding for farmers in Minnesota every year.
• 1,113,346 people who visit national parks in Minnesota every year would be turned away or unable to fully access parks, monuments, and museums.

Last Congress, Democrats working with President Biden delivered a historic economic recovery that is growing the middle class and rebuilding American manufacturing, with 189,500 jobs created in Minnesota since the president took office. Now, this potential extreme MAGA Republican shutdown undermines our economic progress and hurts working families.

Constituents can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about what will be impacted by a Republican Shutdown here.

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