House Republican Appropriators Robert Aderholt, Mark Alford, and Riley Moore have voiced concerns about the ongoing government shutdown, which they attribute to actions by Democratic leaders. In a recent episode of the Right to the Point podcast, the representatives discussed how the shutdown is affecting rural hospitals, mining operations, and small businesses in their districts.
Robert Aderholt, Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, spoke about the need to return to regular order in Congress. He said: “For the last several years, we've had those omnibus bills and there's been no conference that we've had. I remember the day, I've been around for several years now, and I remember the day where we went to conference, and we sat around with the Senate. Our subcommittees and the subcommittee on our counterpart on the Senate side would sit around a table in one of the rooms in the Capitol and hash out to get an appropriations bill, individual appropriations bill. And those days have long been gone. And we were on the verge of trying to work toward that. And as Riley mentioned, we had three bills that not only the motion was mentioned on, but we went to conference, and we are in conference on those three bills right now. But really nothing much can happen until we can get the government open, until we can move forward with the rest of the bills. So I guess there is a chance we could move forward on those three bills at some point.”
Aderholt also commented on efforts by former President Donald Trump during this period: “I think one thing that has made this shutdown different is because of the leadership of Donald Trump. Normally, there’s no money to pay the troops, there’s no money to pay the WIC program for women and infants and children, but Donald Trump has found a way to move some money around to get the money to these programs so the troops can be paid… I’ll give credit to Donald Trump for really trying to make the best of this situation with what is going on with the shutdown with the Democrats, trying to make it easy as possible on our troops, but obviously this money is going to run out. He will not be able to move that money around forever. It’s important that we do get back to regular order at some point, to make sure we are doing the business of the people that have elected us and sent us to Washington.”
Mark Alford, Vice Chair of Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee discussed progress made by House Republicans: “We have done our part on the Appropriations Committee. We have passed all 12 appropriations bills out of committee. It was a hard-fought battle, with Democrats offering numerous, numerous amendments during this process. We got three passed off the House floor [and] sent them over to the Senate to be in conference and [the Democrats] have done nothing with that. They’d rather shut down the government than give us seven extra weeks till November 21st to get our funding done for 2026, return to regular order, and really get back to how we should be doing things…”
Alford criticized Democratic leadership's approach: “Chuck Schumer is holding the American people hostage. I think it is out of his pride, his arrogance, his ego – and most of all – his fear of being primaried by AOC… I think we've all seen the strategy of the Democrats at this point and Hakeem Jeffries is the master of this. P.T. Barnum, I think, would be very proud of the circus that he's holding on the front steps just about every day of the Capitol. They're singing songs. He's shaking his hand a lot, whatever he does with his hand, but trying to make a point. But I think what he's doing most of all is deceiving the American people. They [Democrats] are saying that we are on vacation. I don't know about you guys but I'm not on vacation. I am working my tail off here in 4th Congressional District of Missouri.”
Riley Moore serves as Vice Chair for Legislative Branch Subcommittee and emphasized restoring regular order: “We [House Republicans] worked hours and hours and hours to get all 12 appropriations bills out of committee because we heard from people need and want... Our constitutional duty is to have some semblance of regular order return... which is exactly what we're trying do... And as you mentioned at outset passed three bills floor... also last month had motion go conference... When's last time someone uttered those words House floor? It's probably been little while... So open government back up then can all get back work [and] get appropriations process back track…”
Moore further addressed Democratic actions: “The Democrats their intransigence on this just inexplicable... driven by far left wing party as saw Schumer out there encouraging ‘No Kings’ rally asking people fight against Trump Administration Republicans when it’s he himself who singular figure this shut down government along with party because worried about primary challenge 2028 from AOC... One man’s blind ambition cling onto power United States Senate minority leader has literally ground government halt don’t think right American people don’t think right either.”
He concluded regarding Democrat demands: “It’s a nonstarter Not mention not germane at all appropriations process or budget United States That’s whole separate issue They’re throwing many things they can wall try paint Republicans bad light fight ground feel confident about”
The representatives stated that House Republicans previously acted by passing a clean funding extension over a month ago while Democrats voted against it.
As long as negotiations remain stalled federal employees continue working without pay essential services stay limited progress full-year appropriations remains delayed.
